Sydney welcomes the New Year with massive fireworks

With six tons of colorful fireworks in front of the imposing backdrop of the Harbor Bridge and the Opera House, Sydney has started the year 2022. Unlike last year, this time tens of thousands of viewers were allowed to watch the spectacle live in the region, despite the sharp rise in corona numbers. However, all participants had to buy a ticket for one of around 30 viewpoints. Citizens without a reservation or vaccination should not come to the city center if possible, the organizers had advised. Last year, the center of Sydney was completely closed to spectators.
The world-famous fireworks were broadcast live on the Internet and on the TV broadcaster ABC. Before the pandemic, the imposing spectacle had attracted more than a million people each year. However, the state of New South Wales, in which Sydney is located, is currently the region of the country worst affected by Corona due to the spread of the Omicron variant: On Friday, the authorities there reported more than 21,000 new infections – more than ever before.