27th Macau International Fireworks Display Contest to unveil in September

The 27th Macau International Fireworks Display Contest will be held above the sea area in front of the Macau Tower on September 5, 12, 19, 27 and October 1. Ten contesting teams will brighten up the city skyline with spectacular fireworks on the nights.

Macau International Fireworks Display Contest is an event organized by Macau Government Tourist Office (MGTO). During the press conference held on June 8, MGTO Director Maria Helena de Senna Fernandes unveiled the program highlights of this year’s contest.

Director Senna Fernandes expressed her gratitude for the ardent support from many well-known fireworks companies from across the globe in the past 26 years, making Macau International Fireworks Display Contest one of the most stunning events of the year which attracts visitors from different places flocking into town for the fireworks show every year. She also expressed, “To work in line with building Macau into a World Centre of Tourism and Leisure, Macau Government Tourist Office will continue to present more fascinating and diversified events for residents and visitors, combining different elements with tourism to attract visitors from around the world to experience Macau’s charm as a ‘city of events’.”

The 27th Macau International Fireworks Display Contest is scheduled to take place above the sea area in front of the Macau Tower between September 5 and October 1. The teams from France and Austria will perform on September 27 which is the Mid-Autumn Festival and World Tourism Day, while the teams from Australia and Mainland China will stage their fireworks displays on October 1, a night to celebrate the National Day.

Different outstanding pyrotechnic companies came from around the world to join the Macau International Fireworks Display Contest each year in the past, and this year makes no exception. The ten teams this year come from (according to the order in the contest program) Malaysia; Portugal; Finland; Taiwan, China; Korea; Italy; France; Austria; Australia and Mainland China. Malaysia and Finland are two new places in the contest; similarly, the companies from Italy and France will stage their first performance in Macau. Overall the teams demonstrate competitive experience and are ready to bring on a myriad of spectacular displays for both residents and visitors.

Red Flame Special Effects Sdn. Bhd. from Malaysia, with more than 20 years of experience in the industry, was the technical team for Danang International Fireworks Competition from 2008 till 2013. The company had participated in a number of international fireworks events and it won the second place in the ‘Malaysia International Fireworks Competition’ in both 2007 and 2008. Suomen Ilotulitus Oy – Finnish Fireworks Ltd. from Finland has over 60 years of experience in the industry and organized each year over 200 shows. The company was the champion of the ‘Samobor International Fireworks Festival 2012’ in Croatia.

The companies from Italy and France will make their debut in Macau. Parente Fireworks from Italy, with over 100 years of history, was awarded championship in Danang International Fireworks Competition in both 2011 and 2012. To celebrate the 50th anniversary of constitution in Kuwait, Parente Fireworks produced a mega fireworks show in Kuwait in 2012, which was listed as a Guinness World Record breaking event at that time. Established in 2013, artEventia from France incorporates different elements into fireworks shows, it stands out by integrating massive projected images, lights, water jets and multicolor lasers to create multidisciplinary shows.

The other six teams have come to Macau for the contest before and some of them ranked among the top positions. Dancing Fireworks from Mainland China won the second prize in the Macau contest in 2013. The company is also experienced in creating fireworks shows for different mega events, including the opening and closing ceremonies of 2008 Beijing Olympics and the opening ceremony of World Expo 2010 Shanghai, China. Luso Pirotecnia Group from Portugal has set up an office in Macau, and has participated in the fireworks display for celebration of the anniversary of the establishment of Macau SAR in 2008 and celebration of the Chinese New Year in 2009. The company has participated in the Macau contest for three times, and won the fourth place in the 19th fireworks display contest.

Yung-feng Firecrackers & Fireworks Co., Ltd. from Taiwan, China took part in the Macau contest twice in the past. Daehan Fireworks Co. from Korea joined the contest last year, and has previously participated in the contest for three times under the name Woori Fireworks Inc. In addition, FIREevent from Austria and Howard & Sons Pyrotechnics from Australia have joined the contest in Macau in the past.

This year, MGTO again requests the teams to choreograph their fireworks displays to both music and laser light projections to enhance the audience's experience with a more fascinating light and sound spectacular. Spectators can view live broadcast of the fireworks shows with background music on TDM - Radio Macau's Chinese Channel (FM 100.7) and TDM – Macau TV Channel every fireworks evening.

MGTO and Companhia de Telecomunicações de Macau S.A.R.L. (CTM) have co-launched "Macau International Fireworks Display Contest SMS Game" since 2010. The game has won enthusiastic feedback with over 1,700 text messages received last year. MGTO will again present the SMS Game with CTM this year to encourage residents' participation in the event.

The Office will actively promote this year's fireworks display contest through an array of international, regional and local media and advertising channels, including advertisements broadcasted through international media in neighboring regions and promotion via key media and travel magazines in Mainland China, Hong Kong and Macau. Other strategies include poster and leaflet distribution and so forth. The event is also widely promoted in regional and overseas travel fairs and exhibitions. The Office uses the Internet as a promotion platform as well.

MGTO and the General Union of Neighbors Association of Macau will jointly present the Fireworks Carnival again to add more fun and color to the fireworks evenings. The five-day carnival last year attracted 74,000 arrivals in total.

MGTO accepts applications for the Trophy Design Contest, Photo Contest and Student Drawing Contest of the 27th Macau International Fireworks Display Contest starting from 8 June.

sourced:traveldailynews.asia