The OTI Festival 2000 (, ) was the 28th and last edition of the OTI Festival. It consisted of a semi-final on 19 May, presented by Otto Sirgo and Susana González, and a final on 20 May 2000, presented by Emmanuel, Andrea Legarreta, Bárbara Ferré, Gabriela Spanic, and Nora Salinas, held at the of the in Acapulco, Mexico. It was organised by the (OTI) and host broadcaster Televisa. Initially scheduled for 19–20 November 1999 in Veracruz, it had to be postponed and relocated due to the severe flooding that occurred in early October in the country, which devastated the city.
Broadcasters from twenty countries participated in the festival. The winner was the song "", written by Angie Chirino, Olga María Chirino, and Emilio Estefan, and performed by Hermanas Chirino representing the United States; with "", written and performed by José Vega representing Puerto Rico, placing second; and "", written by Gerardo Flores, and performed by Natalia Sosa representing Mexico, placing third.
Location
The (OTI) designated Televisa as the host broadcaster for the 28th edition of the OTI Festival. The event was initially scheduled for 19–20 November 1999 in Veracruz, but it had to be suspended due to the severe flooding that occurred in early October in the country, which devastated the city. Televisa, in agreement with the OTI, decided to postpone the event to May 2000, relocating it to Acapulco. The venue selected was the of the , which is a multipurpose hall with an area of within the convention and exhibition center. The hall had hosted the festival in 1991.
Participants Broadcasters from twenty countries participated in this edition of the OTI Festival. The OTI members, public or private broadcasters from Spain, Portugal, and eighteen Spanish and Portuguese speaking countries of Ibero-America signed up for the festival. From the countries that participated in the previous edition only Colombia, the Netherlands Antilles, and Uruguay were absent.
Some of the participating broadcasters, such as those representing Chile and Costa Rica, selected their entries through their regular national televised competitions. Other broadcasters decided to select their entry internally.
Two performing artists had previously represented the same country in previous editions: had represented Argentina in 1988 and 1996 (winning in 1988), and Luis Fernando Piedra had represented Costa Rica in 1993.
+ Participants of the OTI Festival 2000 Country Broadcaster(s) Song Artist Songwriter(s) Language Conductor Argentina "" Alejandro Szwarcman Spanish José Ogivieki Bolivia "" Micaela Spanish Chile UCTV "" Magdalena Matthey María Magdalena Matthey Spanish Tilo González Costa Rica Repretel "" Hernán Corao and Luis Fernando Piedra Luis Fernando Piedra Spanish Willliam Porras Cuba ICRT "" Indira Hernández Leonel Viera López Spanish Nando Hernández Dominican Republic "" Rando Camasta Rando Camasta Spanish Nando Hernández Ecuador "" Danilo Fernando Rosero Murillo Spanish El Salvador TCS "" Marinella Arrué Roberto Godoy Spanish Guatemala "" Lico Vadelli Fernando Scheel Spanish Honduras "" Diana Lara Serafina de Milla Spanish Mexico Televisa "" Natalia Sosa Gerardo Flores Spanish Nicaragua "" Lya Barrioz Spanish Panama "" Jorge Bordanea Spanish Paraguay "" Lenys Lenys Spanish Peru "" Anna Carina Spanish Portugal RTP "" Lena d'Água Portuguese Puerto Rico Telemundo Puerto Rico "" José Vega José Vega Spanish Pedro Rivera Toledo Spain TVE "" Spanish Nando Hernández United States Univision "" Hermanas Chirino Spanish Venezuela "" Mary Olga Rodríguez Alicia Lozada Spanish
Festival overview The festival consisted of a semi-final on Friday 19 May and a final on Saturday 20 May 2000. The semi-final was presented by Otto Sirgo and Susana González. The final was presented on stage by Emmanuel, Andrea Legarreta, Gabriela Spanic, and Nora Salinas; with Bárbara Ferré presenting from the rear of the auditorium, with a full view of the hall behind her; and Eduardo Videgaray as the voice-over. Some of the beauty ambassadors present at the event also made some secondary presentations, such as Kisha Alvarado Murillo of Costa Rica, of Peru, Carolina Balzán of the United States, and Martina Thorogood of Venezuela. The musical director was Nando Hernández, who conducted the orchestra when required.
Semi-final The semi-final was held on Friday 19 May 2000. The twenty participating entries were performed in the semi-final, of which only ten advanced to the final, with Mexico having a guaranteed place in the final as the host country. The draw to determine the running order (R/O) in the final was held during the semi-final, after the announcement of the qualifying songs.
+ Results of the semi-final of the OTI Festival 2000 Country Song Artist Result 1 Bolivia "" Micaela 2 Panama "" Jorge Bordanea 3 Puerto Rico "" José Vega Qualified 4 Portugal "" Lena d'Água Qualified 5 Honduras "" Diana Lara 6 Dominican Republic "" Rando Camasta Qualified 7 Costa Rica "" Hernán Corao and Luis Fernando Piedra Qualified 8 Spain "" Qualified 9 Argentina "" Qualified 10 United States "" Hermanas Chirino Qualified 11 Peru "" Anna Carina Qualified 12 Ecuador "" Danilo Fernando Rosero Murillo 13 Guatemala "" Lico Vadelli 14 El Salvador "" Marinella Arrué 15 Venezuela "" Mary Olga Rodríguez 16 Chile "" Magdalena Matthey 17 Paraguay "" Lenys 18 Nicaragua "" Lya Barrioz 19 Cuba "" Indira Hernández Qualified 20 Mexico "" Natalia Sosa Qualified
Final The final was held on Saturday 20 May 2000. It opened with a medley of some of the songs that have won the festival throughout its history performed by the members of the backing choir: "" (representing Mexico in 1989), "" (Spain 1992), "" (Argentina 1994), "" (Mexico 1975), "" (Mexico 1997), and "" (Chile 1998), with the latter leaded by its original singer Florcita Motuda. The show also featured another winning song performed by its original performer: "" by Eugenia León (Mexico 1985); and other performances by Charlie Zaa, Marco Antonio Solís, Hernaldo Zúñiga, Francisco Céspedes, and Emmanuel.
The winner was the song "", written by Angie Chirino, Olga María Chirino, and Emilio Estefan, and performed by Hermanas Chirino representing the United States; with "", written and performed by José Vega representing Puerto Rico, placing second; and "", written by Gerardo Flores, and performed by Natalia Sosa representing Mexico, placing third. There was a trophy for each of the first three places. The first prize trophy was delivered by Emilio Azcárraga, president of OTI, and the beauty ambassador of Costa Rica, Kisha Alvarado; the second prize trophy by Eladio Lárez, vice-president of OTI, and the beauty ambassador of Venezuela, Martina Thorogood; and the third prize trophy by Nicolás Castillo, president of the OTI programs committee, and the beauty ambassador of the United States, Carolina Balzán. The festival ended with a reprise of the winning entry.
+ Results of the final of the OTI Festival 2000 Country Song Artist Place 1 Cuba "" Indira Hernández 2 United States "" Hermanas Chirino 1 3 Argentina "" 4 Portugal "" Lena d'Água 5 Costa Rica "" Hernán Corao and Luis Fernando Piedra 6 Puerto Rico "" José Vega 2 7 Spain "" 8 Dominican Republic "" Rando Camasta 9 Peru "" Anna Carina 10 Mexico "" Natalia Sosa 3
Jury The nine members of a single jury selected their favourite songs in a secret vote. The voting system was not disclosed, and in the final only the top three places were revealed, with third place awarded to two songs jointly. The members of the jury were: Emanuel Ortegasinger-songwriter Felipe Gilsongwriter, wrote the entries for Mexico in 1975 and 1981, winning in 1975 Alejandro Abadsinger-songwriter, wrote the winning entries for Spain in 1993 and 1995 Charlie Zaasinger Florcita Motudamusician, represented Chile in 1978, 1981, and 1998, winning in 1998 composer, wrote the entry for Mexico in 1979 Kike Santandercomposer Hernaldo Zúñigasinger-songwriter, represented Nicaragua in 1974 Noeliasinger-songwriter
Broadcast The festival was broadcast in the 20 participating countries where the corresponding OTI member broadcasters relayed the contest through their networks after receiving it live via satellite.
Known details on the broadcasts in each country, including the specific broadcasting stations and commentators are shown in the tables below.
+ Broadcasters and commentators in participating countries Country Broadcaster Channel(s) Commentator(s) UCTV Final Claudia Conserva and Repretel Semi-final rowspan="2" Final Televisa All shows TVE All shows José Luis Uribarri
Notes
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