Belfast Enjoys International MTV Spotlight

Lady GaGa has won the coveted Best Video award at the 2011 MTV EMA for Born This Way.

In fact, the outlandish star dominated the Europe Music Awards in Belfast, collecting four prizes in a range of outfits.

The US pop singer gained awards for best song, best video, best female and biggest fans at the ceremony, in the Odyssey Arena.

She wore several outlandish costumes, including an oversized silver dress topped off by a satellite dish hat.

Accepting the award from super models Bar Raefaeli and Irina Shayk, GaGa said: "This has been such an exciting and unexpected evening.

"The success of Born This Way has really changed my life, thank you for believing in me."

Meanwhile as Belfast basked in world-wide coverage, Justin Bieber won the coveted title of Best Pop Act at the 2011 MTV EMA, after earlier taking the Best Male title and Bruno Mars has won the coveted title of Best New Act at the 2011 MTV EMA, beating off stiff competition from the likes of Eminem, Kanye West and Bruno Mars.

Once stuffy 'never on a Sunday' also saw a first with Hollywood starlet Hayden Panettiere feigning shock as she greeted a male streaker on stage - much to the surprise of the audience - in what was widely seen as a pre-prepared stunt.

At the same time as the main awards ceremony in the Odyssey Arena, Northern Ireland band Snow Patrol were playing a free gig to 15,000 people at City Hall, with Red Hot Chili Peppers performing at the Ulster Hall.

The NI Tourism Minister, Arlene Foster has hailed the phenomenal success of the MTV Europe Awards held in Belfast yesterday.

A global audience of some 600 million watched the spectacular awards ceremony which saw a host of rock and pop superstars visit the city, many for the first time.

The DUP's Arlene Foster said: "There has been a significant amount of work involved in bringing these prestigious awards to Northern Ireland as well as managing all the events which took place this weekend.

"For a city as small as Belfast to host top stars such as Lady GaGa, Coldplay and of course Justin Beiber over one weekend and to do it with such style is an amazing achievement. Belfast has been showcased like never before to a worldwide audience of millions and we should all be proud," she said.

Concluding, the Minster said that she believed the MTV event provided a significant boost to tourism in Northern Ireland: "Next year, will be another milestone for tourism here with so many exciting events planned including the Titanic centenary, the Clipper round-the-world yacht race and the UK City of Culture 2013. It is time for us to seize these opportunities to put our place on the world map."

Hooray For Holywood

But the MTV Awards was only the latest opportunity for global exposure to be enjoyed by NI.

Last week, a delegation of senior executives from the entertainment and technology industries in Hollywood and Silicon Valley were in Belfast.

The high profile visit was led by John Hartlett, Founder and President of the Irish Technology Leadership Group and comprised senior figures from the entertainment technology sector including Sean O'Donoghue, Chief Information Officer, Dreamworks; Jon Michael Bukosky, Advisor, Digital & Emerging Media at Untitled Entertainment and Anthony Clark, Head of Future Business Innovation, Sony.

The Mayor of Belfast, Councillor Niall Ó Donnghaile, welcomed the delegation to the City Hall at a special reception in his parlour before they visit other parts of the city, which included a trip to the Paint Hall Studios in the Titanic Quarter, a visit to Argyle Business Centre in the Shankill and An Culturlann on the Fall's Road.

(BMcC)