Monitoring Desk
ISLAMABAD/SYDNEY: Australia has geared up to celebrate its first restriction-free New Year’s Eve after two years of Covid-19 disruptions, with more than a million revelers expected to flock to Sydney’s harbor front and watch an elaborate fireworks display.
Sydney welcomes New Year
Sydney is one of the global top major cities to welcome in the New Year and draws huge TV audiences around the world, with a public countdown and the fireworks display over its iconic Opera House.
Lockdowns at the end of 2020 and surge in Omicron cases at the end of 2021 led to crowd banning and reduced festivities. Curbs on celebrations have been lifted this year after a Australia, like many others countries around the world, re-opened its borders and removed social distancing restrictions.
Clover Moore, Lord Mayor of Sydney, said that “This New Year’s Eve, we are saying Sydney is back as we have kick-off festivities around the world and bring the New Year with a bang,.”
A rainbow of color could light up Sydney Harbor, with 2,000 fireworks to be launched from four sails of Sydney Opera House and 7,000 fireworks from more positions on the Sydney Harbor Bridge than ever before.
The organizers said that for the first time in 12 years, fireworks would be launched from four building rooftops to frame the spectacular show.
Prior to a pandemic, over a million people could join the festivities on the ground in Sydney as a billion spectators tuned in from other parts of the world.
