The Australian metropolis of Sydney has already welcomed 2023 with a huge fireworks display in the city’s harbor, the centerpiece of which was a rainbow of light cascading from the Harbor Bridge, as the city prepares to host the World Festival in February. Pride, reports Agerpres.

The Australian metropolis of Sydney has already welcomed the new yearPhoto: Richard Milnes / Shutterstock Editorial / Profimedia

During the holiday, about 9,000 fireworks were set off, the cost of which amounted to about 39 million dollars, the organizers said.

The show in Australia followed shows in the South Pacific islands of Samoa and Kiribati, which were the first to ring in the New Year, with tourists also taking part in the celebrations for the first time since two years of the pandemic.

Both Kiribati and Samoa closed their borders to visitors in March 2020 due to the coronavirus, only to reopen in August and September respectively.

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However, the first major international hub to welcome 2023 was Auckland, New Zealand, which hosted a fireworks and laser show, last year’s show centered around the iconic Sky Tower was canceled due to the Covid crisis.

American Samoa, just 220km east of Samoa but on the other side of the International Date Line, will be the last to welcome 2023 at 11am GMT on Sunday.