Gozitania

Gozitania (Gozitanian: Gożitanja) is a nation that lies in the Western continent. First, Gozitania was a microstate nation but on February 2, 2008, Gozitania and the other microstates, were promoted to full nations. This nation started to participate in the Nation Song Contest from NSC 13 till now. Gozitania was nominated for the Best Microstate award in the NSC Awards 2007.

Gozitania's currency is the Euro (€) and it has a democractic system. Its first and current president is Marina Lizorkina. She was elected on the February 8, 2008, in the first Presidential Election for Gozitania.

Geographic position
Gozitania is situated in the Western continent and is a nation that consists of two separate islands. It has a population of about 700,000 people. Its capital city is Epiktya, the center of all economic and commercial basis of Gozitania. Amongst the most important cities there are Gaulos, Maltiania, Victria and Gaulitania. The language of Gozitania is the Gozitanian with also some dialects that surround the villages' suburbs.

As neighbours, Gozitania has Eurora, Vedatistan, Canamjik, with also few nautical miles away there is Noizeland.

Landmarks
In Gozitania there are some significant sites. In Epiktya, which is the capital city, there is the Silver Stage. This stage was used the first time in the national final for NSC 14, and since now it hosts almost every competition that is held in Gozitania. Its name was originated from the Russian group of Serebro. To commemorate Gozitania's first entry (done by Serebro) they named this new stage "Silver" because this is the actual translation of the word Serebro. It hosts around 30,000 people.

There is also the Gozitania Channel which is a ferry which since now serves all around the NSC World. It started its service on December 10, 2007 and is an important service for Gozitans to have an easier communication with all the people of NSC.

On January 2008, the GRTV (Gozitania Radio & Television) was formed and now it will be in charge of major activities like the national selections for NSC and also the viewing of the Nation Song Contest shows.

Participation in NSC
Gozitania made its debut in the thirteenth edition of NSC and its fifth try gave them their best result when they finished in the ninth place; this was only their second participation in the finals.

NSC 13
This was the first time, and so the debut, for Gozitania. They made an internal selection and they chose that for the first time they will be represented by the Russian group of Serebro with the song "What's Your Problem?". They competed in the Microstate Qualification for their first time but it wasn't quite a success as they didn't qualify for the Semifinal. They finished 6th with a total of 152 points.

NSC 14
This was the second edition of participation for Gozitania, and this was also the first time that it adopted the National Final. There was a total of 7 voters which voted under the style of 10, 7, 4, 1. This was the list of contestants for the national final:

After an intense final were both Vanilla Ninja and Hanna Pakarinen were each on points, the Finnish singer triumphed to represent Gozitania in NSC 14. In the Microstates Qualifiers, Gozitania finished 3rd with a total of 120 points. This was the first time (in two occasions) that this microstate qualified for the semifinal. In the semifinal, Gozitania acquired the best ever result in a competition when it finished 2nd, after Alinta with a total of 200 points. In the final, Gozitania didn't vote and so suffered a 75% penalisation. So, Gozitania finished in the 24th position with a total of 39 points (if voted Gozitania could have finished 4th with 156 points).

NSC 15
This was the third time that Gozitania was participating and this time, it had again adopted the National Final system. Again there were four songs competing for the win. There were 10 voters which voted with the same system of 10, 7, 4, 1 points. This was the list of contestants for the national final:

With Halili, Gozitania didn't have too many triumphs as they finished their adventure soon. They didn't reach to qualify from the Microstate Qualifiers. They finished, again, in the 6th position with a remarkable 115 points. Check full qualifier here or the final results here.

NSC 16
This was the fourth participation of Gozitania and the National Final system was again adopted. In this edition Gozitania listed five songs which competed together for the win and also a new voting system with votes being given at 10, 8, 6, 3, 1 points. This was the list of contestants for the national final:

Again, Gozitania failed to be part of the Semi-Final as it finished 7th from eleven microstates participating, only five points from the sixth place that could have awarded Gozitania a place in the Semis. Gozitania gained a total of 147 points which are 32 points more from the NSC 15 microstate pre-qualifiers edition. Check full qualifier here or the final results here.

NSC 17
This is the fifth try of Gozitania and the National Final was again present. In this edition there was a difference from the preceding national finals, as this time, Gozitania had already chosen the singer and in the national final presented four hits of this singer. The artist chosen was Groove Coverage and there was a record number of voters - 20 voters - which voted under the 10, 7, 4, 1 points system. This was the list of contestants for the national final:

Gozitania reached to qualify for the first time, since NSC 14, to the semi-final when they passed the Microstates' Pre-qualifiers hurdle. In the semi-final they did quite good as they gained a spot in the final with the 4th position (gaining 134 points). In the final, Gozitania finished 9th with a total of 105 points, as 18 nations voted for this entry.

NSC 18
Gozitania decided to hault the run of national finals, and make an internal selection. The song chosen is that of Lindsay Lohan, under the title of "Rumors". This was the first time, that Gozitania competed in the semi-final as all microstates were promoted to full nations. This wasn't a good start, as they failed to qualify receiving the 13th place from 21 nations. They failed to gain a spot in the final by five points.

NSC 19
After the disappointing start as a full nation, Gozitania selected another song, again with internal selection. This time, it was the turn for Madonna which with the song "Frozen" represent Gozitania in NSC 19. They reached to qualify from the semi-final and gained a place in the final finishing in the 20th place.

NSC 20
Gozitania adopted, after an absence of two editions, the national final system. There was a total of four songs contending for the representation of Gozitania in the 20th edition of NSC:

With Sugababes, Gozitania didn't reach to make it to the final and gaining 58 points in the second semi-final, and sharing the 14th position with Prasia.

NSC 21
After a halt from internal selection, Gozitania returned to this method and for the first time in Gozitania's history, the artist chosen had already represented this nation in the preceding editions. It was the Finnish Hanna Pakarinen which with the song "Black Ice" finished just 15th in the semi-final round.

NSC 23
Missing the NSC 22 edition, Gozitania returned back with Kylie Minogue's hit song "In My Arms" for the 23rd edition of NSC, but unfortunately didn't reach to vote and so finished to be ineligible to qualify.

Possible return
On 29 November, 2008, GRTV announced its plans to start participating again and is therefore listed in the waiting list hoping for its return. It was confirmed on 5 February, 2009, that Gozitania will participate again in NSC 39, marking a return back after a sixteen-edition absence.

Overview
The numbers in brackets represent the total of points gained. MPQ - Microstates' Pre-Qualifiers; SF - Semi-Final; F - Final

Points distribution

 * ''Main article: Gozitania: Points distribution

Points awarded
Gozitania awarded a total of 348 points and voted in seven occasions from eight, after failing to vote in the NSC 14 final, resulting in a 75% penalty. 29 nations were given points from the Gozitans, receiving all an average of 12 points. Calypso is the most awarded nation from Gozitania, with Prasia and Eurora following it.

Points received
Gozitania received 316 in three occasions in the final, and from this number of votes, the former microstate gained five times the famous "douze points". Calypso and Eurora gave the most points, and from these two, Calypso awarded twice the 12-point vote while Eurora once.