A press conference dedicated to the formal opening of the Sixth International competition of young singers of popular music \"New Wave 2007\" took place in the conference hall of \"Jurmala SPA\" hotel on July, 25. A great number of mass media representatives gathered in the hall. They greeted the committee consisting of Raymond Pauls and Igor Krutoy (co-chairmen of the jury), Raymond Munkevits (mayor of Jurmala), Guntars Grieze (the president of \"Trasta Komercbanka\"), Alexander Shenkman (chairman of the Organizing Committee), Andrey Kondratjuk (director of \"Dzintari\" concert hall), Lev Ostrovskiy (art director of \"Dzintari\" concert hall), Eugeniy Orlov (musical producer of the contest), Igor Efremov (executive director of the contest), Maxim Andriyanov (vice chief editor of \"HELLO!\" magazine) and general director of the \"New Wave\" contest Alexander Rumyantsev.
The journalists were interested in topics concerning organization, economy and creative work. The mayor of Jurmala pointed out that the \"New Wave\" competition plays an important role in the economy of Jurmala and Latvia. Igor Krutoy stressed that there were twice as many finalists this year as there had been the previous year, therefore the artists\' performing time was shortened from 3 minutes 30 seconds to 3 minutes so as to stick to the timing of the program. When Mr.Krutoy was asked if the contestants were going to be just as professional this year as the last year winner La Rose had been, the composer answered: \"Yes, and even much better\". According to Eugeniy Orlov, a certain trend has been noted - at first young singers participate in the \"Eurovision\" contest and then send applications to the \"New Wave\". This year witnesses two participants of the \"New Wave\" who took part in the \"Eurovision\" contest.
Guntars Grieze declared that despite the fact that a great number of competitions and festivals was held in Latvia in summer, he preferred the \"New Wave\": \"It is the biggest competition in Latvia, it\'s the highest \"Wave\".
International \"Universal\" company is to watch the contestants\' performances attentively this year - an international contract may be offered to one of the participants. The journalists were also told that the six days\' \"New Wave\" contest would be broadcasted in Germany, Greece, Czech Republic and in Cyprus for the first time this year. \"We may reach the rest of Europe with God\'s help one day. And we may cross the ocean afterwards\" - Igor Krutoy said at the end of the conference.