28th Macao International Fireworks Display Contest commences in September

The 28th Macao International Fireworks Display Contest will be held above the sea area across Macau Tower on 3rd, 10th, 15th and 24th September and 1st October, featuring ten contesting teams ready to dazzle the skyline with spectacular fireworks displays that bring out a special theme each of the five scheduled evenings. The themes of the fireworks nights include “Pyro Fantasia”, “Tribute to Bond”, “Mid-Autumn Harmony”, “Stars from afar” and “Celebration in the Sky”. 

 

The Macao International Fireworks Display Contest is organized by Macao Government Tourism Office (MGTO). During the press conference on 7th July, MGTO Director Maria Helena de Senna Fernandes unveiled the event program of this year. 

 

Looking back, Director Senna Fernandes was glad to see so many prominent fireworks companies coming from across the globe to grace the contest over the last 27 years. The event has, for over two decades, drawn a multitude of visiting spectators to Macao. She stated that in the days ahead, MGTO will carry on with its efforts to stage a wider diversity of fascinating events. In pursuit of stronger collaboration with the tourism and travel-related sectors, the Office will strive to incorporate various elements with tourism as well so that more visitors from around the world would love to come and experience the city in different styles. Its endeavor is in line with Macao’s goal to become a World Centre of Tourism and Leisure. 

 

 

The contest has pit a range of globally-acclaimed pyrotechnic companies against each other over the past editions, and without exception, features a strong line-up of competitors this year. A total of ten teams are from different countries as follows (in order of appearance in the contest): Thailand, Portugal, the United Kingdom, Switzerland, Japan, Korea, Italy, Canada, Romania and China. This is the first time for the contest to feature a team from Romania; on the other hand, the Canadian company is making its debut in Macao. The Japanese and Korean teams will present their fireworks shows on 15th September, the Mid-Autumn Festival, whereas the teams from Romania and China will come on stage on 1st October, the National Day. The ten teams are outstanding and well-matched, ready to bring on an array of stunning fireworks displays for residents and visitors. 

 

Established in Canada in 1999, Feu d’artifice Orion stages more than 80 fireworks shows over the province of Quebec and the world annually, including various displays in celebration of Quebec’s National Holiday and Canada Day; in 2015, the company won the first prize in the World Championship Blackpool England. As the contest’s first Romanian team, Pyro-Technic Transilvania Ltd. was founded in 1998 and organizes over 250 fireworks shows for major festivities and prestigious sports events in Romania every year; in 2006, the company won the championship in the Romanian National Fireworks Contest. 

 

The other eight teams all shined in the contest in Macao before, with several of them ranking among the top three. Based in Portugal, Macedos Pirotecnia, Lda joined the contest four times in the past and won the first prize in the 12th edition; boasting over 80 years’ pyrotechnic experience, the Portuguese company once presented the then biggest fireworks display in the world for New Year Eve on Madeira Island in 2006, an achievement recognized by the Guinness World Records, and held the record until 2012. Second-prize winner in the 12th Macao International Fireworks Display Contest, the British company Pyro 2000 Ltd. stages fireworks displays in the world-famous Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo in Scotland each year. Specialized in orchestrating fireworks displays to live music performance, Pyro 2000 Ltd. is among the key players of musical fireworks displays in the United Kingdom. Established in Switzerland in 1967, SUGYP SA brings on over 250 fireworks shows across Switzerland and the world every year, and won the third prize in the 25th Macao International Fireworks Display Contest. Coming from Japan, Marutamaya Ogatsu Fireworks Co., Ltd. won the first and third prizes in the 5th and 19th editions of the contest in Macao before. Taking pride in its over 150 years’ experience in pyrotechnics, the Japanese company is set to enthrall its audience with unforgettable fireworks displays in “Edo-Tokyo style”, which combines modern innovation of Tokyo and traditional techniques of pyrotechnic craft dating from the Edo period in Japanese history. Based in Hunan Province, famed as the “Hometown of firecrackers” in China, Hunan Jingtai Fireworks Co., Inc. has been manufacturing fireworks for over three decades and exporting its products to Asia, Europe, North America and other parts of the world. Taking the Macao contest’s championship back home the year before, the company now comes back to compete against other teams. 

 

For the rest of the teams, Thailand Fireworks, Daehan Fireworks Co. from Korea and Orzella Fireworks from Italy all joined the Macao contest before. 

 

This year, MGTO again requests the teams to choreograph their fireworks displays to both music and laser light projections, not only to bring out their display’s theme and character but also to present a light and sound spectacular. Spectators can enjoy the fireworks shows live broadcast on TDM – Macao TV Channel with their background music streaming from TDM – Radio Macao’s Chinese Channel (FM 100.7) as well every scheduled evening.

 

The Office will vigorously promote this year’s contest through an array of international, regional and local media and publicity channels, including advertisements broadcast through international media in neighboring regions and promotion via key media and travel magazines in Macao, Hong Kong and Mainland China. Other means include poster and leaflet distribution, etc. The Office will widely spotlight the event in regional and overseas travel fairs and exhibitions, as well as on the Internet as a publicity channel.

 

MGTO strives to organize a variety of vibrant events and activities in partnership with various public departments, entities and non-governmental organizations to encourage participation among residents and bring out a greater synergistic effect. The Office will hence join hands with the General Union of Neighbors Association of Macau again this year to present the Fireworks Carnival, filling the event with fun and colorful dimensions. Last year, the five-day carnival welcomed in excess of 77,000 participants. 

 

Applications forms are available starting on 7th July for the Trophy Design Contest, Photo Contest and Student Drawing Contest of the 28th Macao International Fireworks Display Contest. A prize-giving ceremony was held on 7th July for winners of last year’s contests. 

 

This year, residents and visitors can choose to enjoy the fireworks at “Anim’Arte Nam Van”, the new landmark for leisure, culture and creativity in town, while relishing gourmet delights served at the cafe. It is also a place where they can enjoy different artistic performances with unique color with the craft market alongside cultural and creative shops to stroll around for a relaxing evening.