Country Malta Selected entrant Ira Losco Final result 2nd, 164 points | Selection date(s) 15/16 February 2009 Selected song "7th Wonder" | |
Selection process Malta Song for Europe 2002
5/8 Jury
3/8 Televoting | ||
Malta competed in the Eurovision Song Contest 2002 in Tallinn, Estonia. The Maltese entry was selected through the Malta Song for Europe contest, where the winner was Ira Losco with the song "7th Wonder", written by Philip Vella and Gerard James Borg.
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Malta Song for Europe 2002
Public Broadcasting Services (PBS), the Maltese broadcaster, organised a national final to select the 2002 Maltese entry to the Eurovision Song Contest. Malta Song for Europe 2002 was held on 15 and 16 February, where the winner was decided through an expert jury, comprising 5/8 of the overall vote, and public televoting, comprising the remaining 3/8 of the vote.
Sixteen songs competed to be the Maltese entry to Eurovision, with the final winner being Ira Losco with the song "7th Wonder".
At Eurovision
At Eurovision Ira performed "7th Wonder" 20th in the running order, following Turkey and preceding Romania. The Maltese votes were calculated through a 50/50 split in public televote held after all songs had performed and the votes of a professional jury. However this would be the last year that countries could choose the use a 50/50 voting method after allegations of vote swapping were used between the eight countries(including Malta) that used juries for part or all of their votes. All countries are now obliged to hold a public televote.
At the close of the voting, Malta placed 2nd in a field of 24, having received 164 points, being beaten only by Latvia. this was Malta's best result up to that point, and is still one of two second-place finishes for Malta, still being Malta's best results at Eurovision.
The Maltese public and jury gave most points to Cyprus' One, giving them the maximum 12 points. This was followed by 10 points to the United Kingdom's Jessica Garlick and 8 points to Russia's Prime Minister.