Ready to explode: Teams prepare fireworks for the International Fireworks Competition at Han River Port in Da Nang. The festival will be held on April 28 and 29. — VNS Photo Cong Thanh

DA NANG (VNS)— The South African team, newcomers to the 2015 Da Nang International Fireworks Competition, will perform the curtain-raiser on April 28, said the organising committee at a media briefing yesterday.

The Symphony of Colours, the title of the competition, has five scheduled performances from teams hailing from five continents – South Africa, the US, Australia, Poland and Viet Nam.

The team of South Africa, the rainbow nation, will tell a centuries old story, The Blue Sky of Africa, with every colour of the rainbow and music.

Joe Ghazzal, the director of Global2000 International Company, the consultants for the event, said South Africa's spectacular displays at the opening and closing ceremonies of 2010 FIFA World Cup means they are a thrilling addition to the competition. The US team, Pyrotec-nico, will likely bring some creative fireworks to the opening night. Even after 120 years of performances, the US team still has a reputation for being innovative with pyrotechnic technology.

They placed second at the competition four years ago.

Ghazzal revealed that the US team plan to feature pyrotechnic waterfall effects.

The host, Da Nang-Viet Nam will conclude the first night with a 20-minute performance accompanied by folk songs of Viet Nam.

The host team, which participated in all six previous events, have yet to mount the victory podium, but the team will perform and host in true hospitable Vietnamese style.

The performance will highlight Viet Nam's beautiful landscapes and strong spirited people.

The second and final night will have Australian and the Polish teams lighting up the sky.

The Oz team, Howard & Sons Pyrotechnics, are one of their country's most renowned fireworks companies.

The team have become well-known for their performances at large-scale international events in recent years. The team placed third at the 2009 edition.

This is the first time Surex Firma Rodzinna from Poland to participate in the competition, standing in as one of the leading fireworks companies in European.

They will be tough contenders at the competition after winning the Pohang International Fireworks Festival last year in Korea.

Ghazzal said the launching area on the Han River Port has plenty of room for all the teams to expand their firing areas if need be.

StarWorld, National Geographic and BBC World – Asia Zone will broadcast the competition. Viet Nam News will sponsor the event.

In 2013, American Melrose Pyrotechnics won first place. Canada's Davis Whysall took the top prize in 2008, while China's Liuyang Dancing won in 2009. France's Jacques Couturier Organisation won in 2010, and Italy's Parente won twice in 2011 and 2012. — VNS