KOTA KINABALU: Sabah will host the first ever international fireworks competition here in September to commemorate Malaysia Day.

With eight countries already confirming their participation, the Sabah International Fireworks Competition (SIFC) 2014 will start from Sept 1 until Malaysia day on Sept 16.

A bazaar featuring local and international vendors at Likas Bay near here would also be held during the period.

Professional pyrotechnics teams from France, United Kingdom, Australia and China are among those who have confirmed their participation.

Sabah Tourism Board chairman Datuk Joniston Bangkuai said the privately-funded SIFC 2014 organised by iMaginators, would further promote the state as a tourism destination.

iMaginators group director and appointed SIFC 2014 director Jeevan Kuppusamy said 200,000 people were expected to gather along Tanjung Lipat each night during the event.

“Each competition night will see two countries competing in a 25-minute display of colourful and musically-synchronised fireworks each.

“Thanks to the international participation, the event would also be a platform to showcase evolving fireworks technology,” he said.

-NST