2012-08-21 — /travelprnews.com/ — 24th Macau International Fireworks Display Contest will be held at the sea area in front of the Macau Tower on September 8, 15, 22, 29 and October 1.
Macau International Fireworks Display Contest is organized by Macau Government Tourist Office. During the press conference, Director of Macau Government Tourist Office, João Manuel Costa Antunes introduced the situation of the contest this year.
Director João Manuel Costa Antunes expressed that Macau International Fireworks Display Contest has reached the 24th this year; he was delighted that the contest has lighted up the Macau sky with dazzling fireworks for the past 23 years, bestowing unforgettable and beautiful memories upon both visitors and citizens. Macau International Fireworks Display Contest will be marching into the celebration of silver anniversary next year.
He stated that in order to enhance spectators’ enjoyment of the contest and to enrich the performance elements of the fireworks, MGTO will raise the subsidy given to the participating teams for fireworks materials by 25%, i.e. up to USD25,000, starting this year, while also increasing the correspondent support for fireworks materials delivery expense. Furthermore, to celebrate the silver anniversary for Macau International Fireworks Display Contest next year, MGTO will organize the Trophy Design Contest, which will not only foster participation and a deeper sense of involvement among the public but also inspire creativity among local design talents.
24th Macau International Fireworks Display Contest will be held at the sea area in front of the Macau Tower between September 8 and October 1. Among the show days, October 1 is China’s National Day, on which the contest will feature the fireworks teams from Italy and Mainland China.
Over the past years, there were world-acclaimed fireworks companies participating in the Macau International Fireworks Display Contest. The 10 teams which are taking part in the contest this year include (in the contest order) Korea; Thailand; Taiwan, China; United States; Portugal; France; Japan; Australia; Italy and Mainland China. Among the contestant teams, the fireworks companies from France and Italy are staging their first performance in the contest.
Coming on stage the first time, The French fireworks company, Lacroix-Ruggieri prides itself on over 250 years of pyrotechnic experience, being the authority among its trade in Europe. The company made a special effort in studying and developing fireworks colors and new performances effects, and won the champion in the World Fireworks Championship in 2010. Another new team this year is Orzella Fireworks, an Italian fireworks company established in 1884 and devoted to creations which combine fireworks effects and music for years.
The other 8 teams took part in the Macau fireworks display contest before, with many of them awarded in top ranks. Once the third winner in the contest, Foti International Fireworks Pty Ltd. is the largest fireworks manufacturer and displaying team in Australia and hosted the fireworks performance during the opening and closing ceremony of Sydney Olympics as well as the New Year Eve fireworks show in Sydney. Marutamaya Ogatsu Fireworks Co., Ltd. from Japan took part in the Macau contest twice, winning the first and third place individually. The team is renowned for its hand-made spherical fireworks, and staged over 200 performances in 47 countries and regions in the past 60 years, thus very rich in experience.
The fireworks company from United States, Pyro Spectaculars by Souza once took part and won the second place in the Macau contest. Moreover, the team has done worldwide performance, including three Olympic Games and the World Cup 2002. On the other hand, Pirotecnia Minhota, Lda. from Portugal is one of the earliest teams which participated in the Macau contest and once the first winner, while it is the third time for the winner in title of the contest Panda Fireworks Group Co. Ltd from Mainland China to join the competition. The fireworks teams from Korea, Thailand and Taiwan, China are also joining the Macau International Fireworks Display Contest this year again. All the teams will compete against each other to put on a myriad of magnificent fireworks, making beautiful memories for visitors and citizens.
Each participating team is requested again this year to complement their display with music to enthrall the audience with a light and sound spectacular. To enhance the enjoyment, the organizer will install sound systems at the waterfront of the Macau Tower Outdoor Plaza, at the Macau Tower Street seaside and at the square in front of Kun Iam Statue on Ave. Dr Sun Yat Sen so that the public can enjoy synchronized music to the spectacular displays. Spectators are able to listen to live music of the fireworks displays through TDM – Radio Macau’s Chinese Channel live broadcast at FM100.7.
MGTO has joined hands with Companhia de Telecomunicações de Macau S.A.R.L. (CTM) since 2010 to co-launch “Macau International Fireworks Display Contest SMS Game”. The game has gained positive feedbacks with 1120 and 1986 text messages received in 2010 and 2011 respectively. MGTO will continue its cooperation with CTM to jointly present the SMS Game this year in order to foster citizens’ participation in the event. During the contest period, CTM will send out text messages to their mobile subscribers and introduce the game, in addition to promoting the SMS game on the MGTO and CTM websites. Macau citizens can send a text message to CTM through their mobile to vote for their favorite team after each night of fireworks display. Citizens who have voted for the most popular team on that night are eligible for the lucky draw which will grant one winner with two sets of reservoir stand tickets for the 59th Macau Grand Prix (Saturday and Sunday) and souvenir. The 5 fireworks teams who get the most SMS votes will be awarded with “The People’s Choice” certificates and souvenirs. Nevertheless, the voting result will not affect the jury’s decision on the fireworks display contest. MGTO will also post web banners on CTM’s website to enhance the promotion efficiency.
MGTO is striving to present the world’s most prominent international fireworks display, an annual spectacular attraction visitors can’t miss, while actively promoting the fireworks display contest this year through various international, regional and local media promotion channels, including advertisements broadcast through international media in neighboring regions, promotion through primary media and travel magazines as well as poster and leaflet distribution.
MGTO and the General Union of Neighbors Association of Macau will jointly present the Fireworks Carnival to add more fun and colors to the fireworks display nights and to reinforce the reputation of Macau as a remarkable travel destination. Last year, over 25,000 individuals attended the Fireworks Carnival which lasted for 5 days.
In order to capture the spectacular sceneries of the fireworks display contest, photography and drawing competitions will be held again this year. This year, MGTO will add new categories to Macau International Fireworks Display Contest Student Drawing Competition and Photo Competition. Besides the two existing categories, a new category of 15 – 18 years old will be added to the student drawing competition; in this new category, first, second and third prizes as well as 2 outstanding awards and 10 consolation prizes will be awarded likewise. On the other hand, a high-school and college student category of 17 – 24 years old will be added to the Photo Competition besides the existing public category and similarly, first, second and third prizes as well as 4 outstanding awards and 10 consolation prizes will be awarded in the new category. In the newly-launched Trophy Design Contest, first, second and third prizes will be awarded. In addition, the award-winning works may be used as the design of real trophies given to the firework teams in commemoration. The three competitions accept applications effective from today.
The award ceremony of the last Macau International Fireworks Display Contest Student Drawing Competition and Photo Competition will take place on August 30.
e-mail: media@macautourism.gov.mo
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MGTO Director unveils details for the fireworks contest this year