The 28 ^th Macao International Fireworks Display Contest concluded in splendid fashion on 1^st October - PRC National Day - with Marutamaya Ogatsu Fireworks Co., Ltd. of Japan scooping the championship, followed by the fireworks teams of Romania and Canada placing second and third, respectively.

The prize-giving ceremony was held at the Macau Tower Convention and Entertainment Centre. Director of Macao Government Tourism Office (MGTO) Maria Helena de Senna Fernandes plus Deputy Directors Cecilia Tse and Cheng Wai Tong attended the ceremony among other guests and presented the awards to the beaming winning teams.

During the ceremony, Director Maria Helena de Senna Fernandes remarked that the Macao International Fireworks Display Contest had evolved into a Macao brand, a prestigious annual event enthusiastically welcomed by local residents and visitors alike. It has also become one of the designated programmes for Macao people's celebration. For 28 consecutive years, MGTO has invested great effort in organizing this annual spectacular, never ceasing to explore and develop new dimensions to include in the nighttime show.

Every year, the Office searches worldwide for a wide range of outstanding fireworks companies to usher into the limelight, raising, in addition, the standard of performances by requesting teams to choreograph their fireworks displays to both music and laser light projections in order to transport the audience experience to a new level. MGTO strives to organize a variety of vibrant events and activities in partnership with non-governmental organizations and trade partners to produce ever greater synergistic effects for local residents and visitors.

The Contest has pitted a range of globally - acclaimed pyrotechnic enterprises against each other over the past editions, featuring, without exception, a strong line-up of competitors this year. Ten teams in all came 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 the Contest has featured a team from Romania, while the Canadian company is also making its debut in Macao.

Since the first edition was unveiled by MGTO in 1989, the Macao International Fireworks Display Contest has developed into the signature event it is today. More than that, the Contest attracts a vast number of spectators from around the world to Macao every year. The Trophy Design Competition, Photo Competition, Student Drawing Competition and SMS Game are held as a series of supporting activities during the Macao International Fireworks Display Contest to encourage citizens' participation; meanwhile, the Fireworks Carnival is staged every fireworks evening, making the extravaganza even more memorable. In addition, the first Macao Lantern Festival presented by the Office and local trade - which is currently displaying over 40 artistic lanterns along the waterfront - adds another colourful dimension to the festivities prior to wrapping up on 10^th October.

For related competition results of the previous Macao International Fireworks Display Contest, please visit: http://fireworks.macaotourism.gov.mo/?lang=en.