Preview of Macau International Fireworks Display Contest

Wynn Macau – 18th Macau International Fireworks Display Contest will be held on September 2, 9, 16, 23 and October 1 at the sea area across the Macau Tower this year. The Macau International Fireworks Display Contest, organized by Macau Government Tourist Office (MGTO), has always been a colossal event. This year Wynn Macau is the title sponsor for the International Fireworks Display Contest. MGTO Director João Manuel Costa Antunes and Wynn Macau President and General Manager Grant Bowie signed the sponsorship agreement today (May 30). Antunes expressed that this cooperation with Wynn Macau signified that more tourism related enterprises are participating in promotional activities to enhance the tourism industry of Macau. With this spectacular destination resort featuring premier tourism and entertainment facilities to be opened in the second half of the year, Wynn Macau would bring diversified and high standard services to the visitors and enhance Macau’s status as one of Asia’s major travel destinations. With 17 years of history, the Macau International Fireworks Display Contest has gained worldwide recognition for the quality of the participating teams, the scale and the performance standard of the contest. The contest this year features ten teams from Germany, Taiwan China, Korea, Thailand, Portugal, Australia, United States of America, Japan, France and China; each will show off their pyrotechnic wizardry to the spectators both from Macau and overseas. Pyro Spectaculars by Souza from the United States of America is taking part for the first time in the Macau International Fireworks Display Contest. It has been 10 years since the last American team participated. Liuyang City Hongji Fireworks Co., Ltd is also a first timer but is no stranger to Macau as they featured at the fireworks display to celebrate the 6th Anniversary of the Establishment of the Macau SAR as well as the New Year Eve Fireworks Display last year. Wan Dar Fireworks Mfg. Co., Ltd from Taiwan China is an active participant in worldwide fireworks displays, competitions and exhibitions. They have taken part 5 times in the contest, including the 1st Macau International Fireworks Display Contest. This is the second time for the French team Brezac-Artifices to join the contest, after winning second prize last year. The team is very experienced in the field and has taken part in various fireworks displays and competitions in Europe, Asia and North America. With a hundred years of history, Pirotecnia Minhota from Portugal comes to perform in this contest for the fourth time. They were the champion of the Macau International Fireworks Display Contest in 1991 and performed for the opening ceremony of the Macau International Airport in 1995. Other participating teams, with their rich experiences and unique features, will surely bring audiences a colorful and memorable time. For the first time last year, a new feature was introduced to the Macau International Fireworks Display Contest, in which each participating team was requested to complement their display with music to enthrall the audience with a light and sound spectacular. 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. The teams taking part in this year’s contest are: NICO Lunig Event GmbH from Germany, Wan Dar Fireworks Mfg. Co., Ltd. from Taiwan, China, Hanwha Corporation from Korea, Pacific Pyro Co., Ltd. from Thailand, Pirotecnia Minhota, Lda, from Portugal, Foti International Fireworks Pty Ltd from Australia, Pyro Spectaculars by Souza from the United States of America, Takagi Fireworks Co., Ltd. from Japan, Brezac-Artifices from France and Liuyang City Hongji Fireworks Co., Ltd. from China. Each fireworks display will last for approximately 18 minutes, and there will be two displays per evening at 9 pm and 10 pm. The organizer is going to attribute US$17,500 to each fireworks team as subsidy. The winner will receive US$6,000, trophy and certificate. First and second runners-up will receive US$3,200, US$1,800, trophies and certificates respectively. The Macau International Fireworks Display Contest first started in 1989, with only five participating teams. By 1995, the event has developed to a ten-team event, with two different teams showing their expertise each night. For the past 17 years, over 100 international teams had taken part in the Macau International Fireworks Display Contest. The Macau Government Tourist Office will continue to work towards advancing the event’s international status and reputation, with the vision to bring about the world’s most prominent international fireworks display. MGTO hopes that the glamorous firework displays, together with the colorful activities, will bring a splendid holiday to the visitors in Macau. In order to capture the spectacular moments of the fireworks display contest, the photo and drawing competitions will be held again this year. Wynn Macau - 18th Macau International Fireworks Display Contest Photo Competition and Wynn Macau - 18th Macau International Fireworks Display Contest Drawing Competition will invite entries soon. The winners of the two competitions will be entitled to premiums and trophies. The prize presentation ceremony for the 17th Macau International Fireworks Display Contest Photo Competition and the 17th Macau International Fireworks Display Contest Drawing Competition was held yesterday and the awarded photos and drawings are exhibited at basement 1 of Macau Tourism and Cultural Activities Centre.