New prizes for the 19th competition
THE FIREWORKS COMPETITION OF TARRAGONA PRESENTS THE CONDITIONS FOR 2008
The period of presentation of applications is open until 1st February.
The organisation of the International Fireworks Displays Competition Ciutat de Tarragona has presented the conditions for its 19th year, that will take place during the first full week of July, which is between the 7th and the 12th. This is the first competition organised by the new local government, formed by PSC and ERC, and it will have some new prizes that have already been included in the general specifications.
Apart from the official prizes, the Great Prize from the Public is awarded directly by the audience. Last year, as a novelty from the new local government not included in the specifications, this prize was for the first time not only honorary but it was worth some money as well, thanks to the sponsoring of the company ONO. Now, in 2008 this has been included in the official conditions of the competition since the very beginning of the present call. Until last year, one of the most proactive sides of the competition was called and held but it was not included in the regulations. This year, this popular vote, in which thousands of people take part every year, is stated in the conditions of the competition, taking into account both its effectiveness and the prizes. This way, the pyrotechnic companies will know about it right from the beginning. The public may vote by ballot paper or on the internet, through the competition's official portal
www.tarragona.piroart.com .The company with a higher average number will get 3,000 euros from the sponsor of this prize.
On the other hand, one of the new events during last year's Santa Tecla festivities was the firing of four simultaneous air "tronades" on the first day of the festivities at four different areas of the city. The prestigious Valencian pyrotechnic company Vicent Caballer was in charge of firing them. The great success has made the organisation think of including this event in the conditions for the Fireworks Displays Competition. This award is reserved for a Catalan or a Valencian company, as "tronades" are such a specific trait of the Mediterranean identity. The total award will be of near 14,000 euros.
With the aim to be in the great Final
The pyrotechnic companies that would like to take part in the 19th year of the Fireworks Competition may do so until 1st February. The selection committee will choose the six participants on 12th February and the order of performance will be decided on a public draw on the 14th. Last year, 360,000 people watched the displays. 86% of the visitors who arrived in the city came from other parts of Catalonia; 6.75% came from the rest of Spain; and 7.25% were foreign. The competition generated a total amount of 18,339 pernoctations in the touristic area of the Costa Daurada.
The competition of Tarragona follows a pattern with the special occasions that are celebrated when six companies have won, therefore, every six years there is a special competition, called the Champion of Champions, the great world fireworks final. The latest was three years ago, in 2006, and it contributed to increase the prestige of the competition of Tarragona due to the high quality of the six participating companies. On that occasion, the winner was the Italo-German company Gamma P. Last year, in 2007, a new stretch was started to get to the still far away special competition. The Andalusian company María Angustias Pérez, from Guadix (Granada) swept the board: the official prize, the special prize of the "Blancs i Blaus" local festivity of Granollers, and the prize from the public. Apart from this, this company achieved another aim: a place at the great Final of the world pyrotechnics. The winning company in 2008 will have the second place of participation at the future special competition.
