Macau International Fireworks Display Contest, the world's foremost illustrious, will be held on September 12, 18, 25, 28 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, has always been a colossal event. Splendid fireworks will light up the sky of Macau, adding joyous atmosphere to the Mid-Autumn Festival and National Day.

The 16th Macau International Fireworks Display Contest features ten teams, from Australia, Taiwan, Germany, Korea, Portugal, Japan, Italy, the Philippines, United Kingdom and China, each will show off their pyrotechnic wizardry to the spectators both from Macau and overseas. Teams from the Philippines, Taiwan, Korea and Portugal have participated in the previous Fireworks Display Contests and the team from Portugal was the winner in 2000.

The Australian team is very experienced in the field and has presented fireworks displays at the Opening Ceremony of the Sydney Opera House, 50th National Day Celebration in Shenzhen, China, 2002 FIFA Soccer World Cup, Korea and 2003 Rugby World Cup. The Italian team has a history of over one hundred years and was the winner of the 6th World Fireworks Championship in 2002. The team from the United Kingdom has been utilizing advanced wireless computer controlled firing system for the last six months in fireworks displays. Other participating teams, with their rich experiences and special feature, will surely bring audiences a colorful and memorable time.

The teams for this year are: Howard & Sons Pyrotechnics Display from Australia, Wan Dar Fireworks Mfg. Co., Ltd from Taiwan, Pyro-Partner GmbH from Germany, Hanwha Corporation from Korea, Macedo & Companhia Pirotecnia, Lda from Portugal, Tamaya Art Pyro Technics from Japan, La Tirrena Fireworks from Italy, Six J Fireworks from the Philippines, Millennium Pyrotechnics Ltd. from the United Kingdom, Liuyang Jiding Fireworks Manufacture Export Co., Ltd. Each fireworks display will last for approximately 18 minutes, and there will be two displays per night at 9 pm and 10 pm.

The organizer is going to present US$17,500 to each fireworks team as subsidy. The winner will receive US$6,000, trophy and certificate. First and second runner-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 15 years, over 80 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. The 16th Macau International Fireworks Display Contest Photo Competition and the 16th Macau International Fireworks Display Contest Drawing Competition will invite entries soon. The winners of the two competitions will be entitled for premiums and trophies.