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 today (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.
Outstanding fireworks teams
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 Québec and the world annually, including various displays in celebration of Québec’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.
Music and laser light effects
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.
Publicity via various channels
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.
Side activities bring a lively vibe
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 today (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 today (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.
“第二十八届澳门国际烟花比赛汇演”将于9月3日、10日、15日、24日及10月1日在澳门旅游塔对开海面举行。十支参赛队伍将献上精彩的烟花表演。五晚的烟花比赛汇演将以不同的主题，分别是“烟花幻想曲”、“璀璨邦之夜”、“和乐融秋月”、“遥星炫夜空”以及“闪耀迎喜庆”，带出每个烟花之夜的特色。
澳门国际烟花比赛汇演由澳门特别行政区政府旅游局主办，旅游局局长文绮华于今天（7日）的记者招待会上介绍今届烟花比赛汇演的内容。
文绮华表示很高兴在过去二十七年来得到世界各地的烟花公司参与澳门国际烟花比赛汇演，每年吸引众多旅客专程来到澳门欣赏。旅游局将继续为市民和旅客献上更精彩和多元化的节目，加强与旅游业及相关业界联动协作，将不同的元素结合旅游，吸引世界各地的旅客以不同方式感受澳门，配合构建澳门成为“世界旅游休闲中心”。
烟花队伍实力不凡
历届的澳门国际烟花比赛汇演都有世界着名的烟花公司参与，今年也不例外。参赛的十支队伍分别来自（按比赛程序）泰国、葡萄牙、英国、瑞士、日本、韩国、意大利、加拿大、罗马尼亚和中国。今年首次有来自罗马尼亚的烟花公司参与，而加拿大的烟花公司也是首度亮相。9月15日中秋节将有日本队和韩国队的烟花表演，而来自罗马尼亚和中国的烟花队伍将在10月1日国庆日当晚演出。十支队伍可谓高手云集，旗鼓相当，将为旅客及市民带来连场精彩的烟花表演。
加拿大的Orion烟花公司于1999年成立，每年在加拿大的魁北克省及世界各地举办超过八十场的烟花表演，其中包括为魁北克省庆日以及加拿大的国庆日制作多场烟花表演，并且在2015年英国黑池国际烟花比赛中取得第一名。来自罗马尼亚的Transilvania烟花公司于1998年成立，每年为多个罗马尼亚的重要节日和体育盛事等制作超过二百五十场烟花表演，并在2006年罗马尼亚烟花比赛中取得第一名。
其他八支队伍都参加过澳门的烟花比赛汇演，当中有些更曾经赢取前三名。葡萄牙的Macedos烟花公司曾四度参加澳门的烟花比赛汇演，其中于第十二届的比赛中赢取第一名。该烟花公司已有逾八十年历史，曾于2006年除夕在马德拉群岛制作了大型的跨年烟花表演，在当时荣获《健力士世界纪录大全》列为全球最大型的烟花表演，此项纪录更保持至2012年。英国的Pyro 2000烟花公司曾于第十二届澳门国际烟花比赛汇演取得第二名，每年为世界闻名的苏格兰爱丁堡军乐节制作烟花表演，擅长以现场演奏配合烟花表演，被视为英国位居前列的音乐烟花表演公司之一。瑞士的SUGYP烟花公司于1967年成立，曾于第二十五届澳门国际烟花比赛汇演取得第三名，每年在瑞士及世界各地制作超过二百五十场烟花表演。日本的株式会社丸玉屋小胜烟火店曾参与第五届和第十九届的澳门国际烟花比赛汇演，并分别取得第一名和第三名。该公司拥有超过一百五十年制作烟花的经验，透过结合东京的革新及江户时代传统的烟花制作技巧，以“江户‧东京式”的意念，制作令人难忘的烟花表演。来自中国湖南省“花炮之乡”的湖南景泰烟花有限公司拥有超过三十年历史，生产的烟花产品出口至亚洲、欧洲及北美等地，曾于前年的澳门国际烟花比赛汇演赢得第一名。
泰国烟花公司、韩国的Daehan烟花公司及意大利的Orzella烟花公司都曾经参加澳门的烟花比赛汇演。
音乐及镭射灯光效果
今年的澳门国际烟花比赛汇演继续要求参赛队伍在燃放烟花时，配上音乐及镭射灯光演出，以衬托烟花表演的主题特色，丰富演出效果，同时，澳门电台中文频道（FM100.7）及澳广视的澳视澳门频道将在每个演出晚上直播现场盛况及烟花背景音乐。
多渠道宣传
旅游局也将透过国际性、地区性和本地的不同媒体和宣传方式，积极向外宣传今届的烟花比赛汇演，包括透过国际媒体在邻近地区播放广告，以及在内地、香港及本地主要的传媒和旅游杂志进行宣传，并派发海报、单张等。同时在区内及外地的旅游展览或展销会推广这项盛事，也会利用网络平台宣传。
周边活动添气氛
旅游局着重与不同的政府部门、机构、民间团体等联动协作，举办丰富的盛事活动，并增加市民的参与度，发挥更大的协同效应。今年将继续与澳门街坊会联合总会在比赛夜举办火树银花嘉年华，以丰富盛事元素，增添热闹气氛。去年有超过七万七千人次参与五天的火树银花嘉年华活动。
第二十八届澳门国际烟花比赛汇演的奖杯设计比赛、摄影比赛和学生绘画比赛的参赛表格由即日（7日）起开始派发。上届各项比赛的颁奖礼于今（7日）举行。
今年，市民和旅客更可选择到文创休闲新地标“南湾．雅文湖畔”，一边欣赏烟花，一边品尝小食，同时又可以观赏各具特色的文艺表演或逛逛文创商店和艺墟，享受休闲的晚上。
