City honoured in first for MTV

Published on Tuesday 2 December 2003 00:00

EDINBURGH was yesterday presented with an MTV music award, which is normally reserved for pop and rock icons.

The award recognises Scotland’s contribution to making the recent MTV Europe Music Awards the best in the ten-year history of the event.

It is the first time such an award has been presented to a city or country.

The distinctive award was presented by Simon Guild, the chief operating officer of MTV Europe, and was accepted by the tourism minister, Frank McAveety, and Edinburgh’s Lord Provost, Lesley Hinds.

Presenting the award in recognition of the warm welcome and outstanding support MTV received to bring the tenth anniversary ceremony to Edinburgh, Mr Guild said: "We were staggered by the incredible support, the high level of local expertise and the warm welcome we received from everyone in Scotland.

"We believe that the tenth MTV Europe Music Awards was one of the best MTV shows ever made, anywhere in the world."

MTV executives announced immediately after the show, which was beamed around the world to a potential television audience of one billion viewers, that for the first time in the history of the event they would present Edinburgh and their partners in Scotland with an award.

They said: "Edinburgh is a fantastic location for an event of this scale."

Accepting the award, Mr McAveety, said: "I am delighted for Edinburgh and for Scotland that we have been recognised by the organisers as hosting the best-ever MTV awards ceremony with our own special award.

"We have showcased what we have to offer to a global audience and won worldwide admiration for it. I think that speaks volumes about everyone involved whose hard work made such a great opportunity for Edinburgh and the rest of Scotland come to life."

Up to one billion people - one in six on the planet - are reported to have seen at least part of the award ceremony, which was broadcast live around the world.