Dr Joseph Muscat, Maltese Prime Minister and Gaia Cauchi.
Photo Credit : DOI / Clifton Fenech

The winner of this year's Junior Eurovision Song Contest Gaia Cauchi has been nominated for the Gieh ir-Republika – Malta's highest honour following Saturday's competition at the National Palace of Arts Ukraine in Kyiv.

Gaia Cauchi received a hero's welcome at Malta's International Airport. Crowds cheered, some sounded horns, and then broke into a chorus of her winning entry “The Start” for which she was awarded 130 points.

Maltese Prime Minister Dr Joseph Muscat congratulated Gaia and announced that at 11 years of age, the schoolgirl would become the youngest recipient of the national honour in a ceremony on December 13.

Twelve contestants, aged between ten and fifteen years, took part in the two hour contest hosted by Ukrainian public broadcaster and EBU Member NTU. Sofia Tarasova from Ukraine was second with her song ‘We are One.’ Ilya Volkov from Belarus snatched third place from Russia with ‘Poy so Mnoy’ (Dance with me).

Now entering its second decade, the JESC underwent a number of format changes this year, heightening audience interest. Contestants conducted their own draw to determine the order of their performance; additional prizes were offered, including the opportunity for the winner to attend the 2014 Eurovision Song Contest in Copenhagen; and presenters appeared on stage in Kyiv instead of broadcasting from their TV studios via satellite. In addition, Eurovision Song Contest 2013 winner Emmelie de Forest performed on stage, strengthening the ties between the Eurovision family of events.

EBU Head of TV Bettina Brinkmann said that the audience response has been extremely positive.

“There has been a huge surge of interest this year, not only from participating nations but from all over the world. Australia, Kosovo, Chile and Scottish radio also broadcast this event, and it trended as the top topic on Twitter in Spain and the UK,” Ms Brinkman said. "NTU made outstanding efforts to ensure all the participants felt welcome. It was an extraordinary and entertaining evening.”