In exactly two weeks from now, the 33rd edition of the Montreal International Fireworks Competition will begin! Today was also the briefing and training day for jury members. So it is time for the final countdown! Here are some "fun facts" and comments to entertain us before this great moment!

- The 2017 edition will be an all-European competition, reportedly because the countries favoured by those who participated to a vote held last fall.

- There's no new entrant to the competition this year, so we will have opportunities to see again many pyrotechnicians who have already made great achievements in Montreal.

- The British show may be the most anticipated this year: Jubilee managed to win the Gold Jupiter although it was the first contestant in the 2015 line-up; imagine what may happen as it is the last one this year!

- Former Olympic diver Alexandre Despaties is the official event spokesman in 2017. As far as I can remember, this is the first time that the competition has a celebrity as spokesperson. In addition, there's a new chief of division of public relations at La Ronde this year. We shall monitor how these changes impact the media coverage. (One more fun fact: Alexandre Despaties has a namesake who attend the competition since many years... someone else may specify since how long.

- So far, the scheme of the Jacques-Cartier bridge new lighting package on fireworks night is a well-kept secret. It would be a disappointment whether this Montreal icon does not join the party!

- The 2017 jury is the 10th supervised by current coordinators, Lynda Normand and Denis Lono. The Gold, Silver, and Bronze Jupiter trophies are awarded by a popular jury since 1992, which was a special edition for the 350th anniversary of Montreal.

- The 2017 competition is the 20th edition led by competition director Martyne Gagnon and technical director Paul Csukassy (each having a couple more years of services at La Ronde). With all the challenges this event has gone through, it is not a small achievement!

- La Ronde general manager, Philip Liggett, and other officials are still registered to the Quebec government Registry of lobbyists. Their mandate is to negotiate changes to the lease between Six Flags and the City of Montreal regarding the sections on the rental and the International des Feux Loto-Québec. Current mandate expires on July 10, 2017, however it may be extended (the initial mandate was scheduled to expire one year ago, then has been extended).

- The opening display will be the 290th show presented since the beginning of the fireworks competition in 1985 (with exclusion of award ceremonies in 2009 and 2010), the Polish display fired by Surex will be the 250th on-competition show; in addition, Surex is scheduled to be the 200th I attend being on La Ronde's site, so I hope for a great one! ;-)

Fred