Taipei 101 has yet to find a sponsor for this year’s New Year’s Eve fireworks, Taipei Financial Center Corp — which owns Taipei 101 — chairwoman Christina Sung (宋文琪) said yesterday.
With more than 1 million people expected to gather around the iconic skyscraper to watch the fireworks, the annual show is the highlight of Taipei’s New Year’s celebrations and a leading tourist attraction.
After sponsorship by the Ting Hsin International Group (頂新國際集團) was dropped due to the firm’s involvement in recent adulterated oil scandals, Taipei 101 has been forced to scramble for a new partner, promising to provide year-round advertisement within the building as part of a sponsorship package.
“While there are several companies [interested], there are still a number of details which remain unsettled,” Sung said. “I can only say that there is hope, but nothing is determined yet.”
She added that only corporations whose reputation and management practices are up to Taipei 101’s standards would be considered. Regardless of whether a sponsor is found, this year’s fireworks would go ahead as planned, she said.
Sung also hinted that this year’s fireworks might be the building’s last, amid rumors that new skyscraper construction next door will prevent fireworks from next year.
“Funding concerns are relatively easy to address,” she said, stating that “other concerns” might prevent future displays. “Whether or not there will continue to be fireworks is not something that Taipei 101 can decide on its own.”
Meanwhile, Taipei 101 announced that this year’s firework’s musical accompaniment would be the first to incorporate Taiwanese folk songs. Music from different ethnic groups is to be blended with Vivaldi’s Four Seasons for the show.
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