2008–09 IRB Sevens World Series normal 16 teams) was spread out over a three-day period. The series' tournaments are identical to 2007–2008 and span the globe: The 2009 Rugby World Cup Sevens was not a part of the 2008-09 series. Unlike the 2005 edition held in Hong Kong, the 2009 edition did not replace one of the 2008-09 series events. The World Cup was held in Dubai from March 5–7, 2009 and won by Wales. Prior to the season, the IRB announced the 12 "core teams" that would receive guaranteed berths in each event in the 2008–09 series: The one new core team was the
Norway in the Eurovision Song Contest 2009 January respectively. The three semi-finals of the contest were held on 24 January, 31 January and 7 February 2009, along with a second chance round, which was held on 14 February, and the final of the contest, held on 21 February 2009. A possible participant to this year's Melodi Grand Prix may be Hanne Krogh, who previously represented Norway in the 1971, 1985 and 1991 contests (the last two appearances as part of Bobbysocks and Just 4 Fun respectively), after she announced in 2007 that she might compete in MGP in 2009. Although NRK has neither confirmed nor denied anything