2020 is set to go out with a … ?
Last year, more than 300,000 Australians signed a petition to cancel Sydney’s New Year’s Eve fireworks as a show of solidarity to bushfire victims across the country. The money, however, had already been spent on the pyrotechnic display of light, colour, and sound, and the show went on.
This year, though, the story is a little bit different.
New South Wales deputy premier, John Barilaro, has cited two reasons for saying that ”there is no option but to cancel” the $6.5m event which is live-streamed and broadcasted internationally.
Each year, the fireworks spectacular draws to Sydney inner-city approximately a million people. Subsequently, authorities are concerned about a potential coronavirus outbreak among the public as it would likely be impossible to manage such a large gathering of people eager to get the best view they can.
Secondly, John Barilaro has said ”if the regions have to lose big tourism events, then there is no option but to cancel the big drawcard events in Sydney” referring to the Tamworth Country Music Festival and Falls Festival which have both had to suspend their events this year.
Nonetheless, there are certain whispers going around that the 12-minute, 100.000 strong firework spectacular may still go ahead, but from a secret location where it will be filmed and televised.
It’s not what we’re used to, but neither is 2020.