Although no pop star has volunteered to sing the national anthem during this year's Double Ten National Day celebration, the event promises a full day of fun and entertainment, with a fireworks show lighting up the sky of Chiayi County, the designated site of a branch of the National Palace Museum, organizers said yesterday.
"We started the preparation work in July and we're now proud to announce that all the details of the celebration have been mapped out. The first and only rehearsal will take place on Friday, from 12:30pm to 4pm," Legislative Speaker Wang Jin-pyng (
Wang doubles as the chairman of the National Day Preparatory Committee.
The live broadcast of the celebration activities will be carried by Chinese Television System (CTS). Over 14,000 law enforcement officers, boy scouts, students and special security teams will be mobilized to attend and ensure security at the celebration.
According to Wang, celebration activities will take place in "various locations."
Those taking place in Taipei City include a morning celebration in front of the Presidential Office, an evening cocktail banquet at the Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall, an evening party in the square outside the Presidential Office and a concert at the National Concert Hall.
A fireworks show, scheduled to run from 7pm to 8pm, will take place at Taipao, Chiayi.
Over 11,000 fireworks will light up the sky of the central city.
During the morning event, slated to run from 9:20am to 11:40am, President Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) will address the nation for 35 minutes. Sixteen Olympic and Paralympic medalists will arrive at the scene and sing the national anthem with students from the Senior High School of National Taiwan Normal University.
Chiang Chih-chung (
About 82,000 foreign guests, local politicians and overseas Taiwanese are expected to attend the morning celebration.
The evening party on the square outside the Presidential Office will start at 7pm and run until 10:30pm.
Local and international entertainers will perform at the party. The evening event is estimated to attract 30,000 to 50,000 people. Streets leading to the Presidential Office will be closed between noon to midnight.
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