Baku Crystal Hall

BW

• Euro Vision Song Contest 2012

The Baki Kristal Zali (English Baku Crystal Hall; Russian Бакинский кристальный зал ) is a multi- event arena in Baku ( Azerbaijan). The plant was completed on 16 April 2012 and has a capacity of 20,000 spectators. She was the venue of the 57th Euro Vision Song Contest in May 2012. The construction was coordinated by the Echinger company Alpine Bau. While the performances of the participants, the facade of the hall shone in the national colors of each country.

History

On 2 August 2011, the decision to build the hall of Alpine Bau AG Germany has been set. After the space for the construction of the event arena had been selected, started the preparations for the construction. On September 5, it was announced that the hall would have a capacity of about 23,000 people.

With three weeks of delay, the hall 16 April 2012, after seven months of construction was completed. The reasons for the delay bad weather conditions were mentioned.

Criticism

There were prior criticism of the human rights organization Human Rights Watch. They criticized the eviction of apartments and houses to perform their demolition, so that space is created for the arena. The Association for Public Help for the Free economy has described the evictions as a " violation of human rights."

According to reports by the BBC other media have reported that the demolition of flats and houses would not have been necessary.