Sydney is inviting the world to ‘Embrace’ this New Year’s Eve (NYE12) – thanks to the creative input of Creative Ambassador, Kylie Minogue.
Kylie worked with the City of Sydney to develop the theme which includes Embrace Sydney, Embrace the Possibility, Embrace the Moment and Embrace Love.
Sydney’s NYE12 fireworks are the largest and most technologically advanced in the world. A crowd of about 1.6 million is expected to watch from the Sydney Harbour foreshore with 2.6 million watching live on TV or via the Internet in Australia, and around 1 billion elsewhere as Sydney becomes one of the first cities in the world to welcome the new year.
Kylie describes ‘Embrace’ as “all about acceptance, tolerance, fun and, above all, love.”
And demonstrating that the City of Sydney means what they say, the official charity partner of this year’s fireworks is the Fred Hollows Foundation which has given sight to many millions of people throughout its 20 years of work.
CEO of the Foundation, Brian Doolan, says he still gets goose bumps when he watches someone have a sight restoring operation after many years of blindness.
“I’m often there when the surgical patch gets taken off, and for the first time in many years, they see,” he said.
“That absolutely makes the hair on the back of your neck stand up and every time it just makes me think, ‘wow, this is amazing’.”
“In the past five years we’ve provided training to over 30,000 people in different parts of the world, from village health workers to surgical training,” Mr Doolan said.
“And in those five years, The Foundation has supported nearly one million sight restoring operations and eye treatments.
“We’ve also been able to build, renovate and refurbish clinics, supply equipment and invest in new technologies and procedures that are going to assist people in very poor parts of the world - that’s a great thing to celebrate.”
Mr Doolan said Fred Hollows Foundation would always Embrace the Possibility.
“I hope next year we’ll set new records in the number of people whose sight is restored and then we’ll be one step closer to removing avoidable blindness from the world.”
To ‘embrace’ NYE12, Kylie recommends you listen to I Should Be So Lucky.
There is a 9pm fireworks display followed by ‘synchronised colour moments’ on the Bridge and on the smart phone App at 10.15pm, 11pm, 11.30pm and 11.45pm to build anticipation for the big bang at midnight. Fireworks will also be launched from the rooftops of seven city buildings.
Tips for a safe and enjoyable 2012 Sydney New Year’s Eve:
- Download the NYE12 app, created with Telstra, to take part in the first-ever Sydney
- Harbour interactive light show at www.sydneynewyearseve.com/app or search the
- App store for ‘Sydney New Year’s Eve’
- Pick a vantage point in advance and be aware popular areas fill up quickly
- Plan ahead if you’re heading to the harbour foreshore and take public transport
- Remember not to take glass to the event
- Place rubbish in the bins provided
- Use public transport
- Don’t drink and drive
You can hear the fireworks with soundtracks selected by Kylie and friends on 104.1 2DayFM or watch it live on the Nine Network or at www.sydneynewyearseve.com
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