Australia wins pyro olympics in Manila

Because of the unique rhythm and form of its fireworks display, Australia was chosen grand winner in the First World Pyro Olympics held at the Bay area in Pasay City late Friday night.

Roberto Crisostomo, La Mancha Pyro Production vice president for marketing, said the judges were impressed with the intensity of Australia’s pyrotechnic display, especially by the group’s multiple shells churning out fireworks in rapid sequence.

"Compared to the entries of other countries, Australia’s fireworks display was more wonderful as the designs it created in the air were really colorful and breathtaking. It was obvious that what they’ve shown generated intense audience impact," Crisostomo said.

Ricardo Crisostomo, also of La Mancha Productions, is chairperson of the committee that evaluated the nine competing countries.

Beginning last Monday and until Friday, fireworks enthusiasts were treated to dazzling 20-minute aerial displays by two international competitors per night.

The aerial displays were launched from barges anchored 300 meters from the seawall fronting the Esplanade in front of the still-under-construction Mall of Asia, located in the Central Business Park, Bay City.

It was Australia and China that competed last Monday followed by Germany and South Korea the following night.

On Wednesday, firework shows were displayed by Russia and the United Kingdom. The United States, meanwhile, was pitted against South Africa on Thursday night. On the final night, Friday, the United Arab Emirates gave its presentation. The Philippines, which was not competing, simply staged its own fireworks show on the final night. After this followed a "classical" fireworks display called "The World Pyro Olympics Fellowship of Fire Presentation," in which all nine competing countries participated.

Participation in the World Pyro Olympics, one of the largest and most intense fireworks contests in the world, is by invitation only. The competitors were chosen on the basis of their performance in various fireworks contests held around the world, organizers said.