Australia Up Close

Taste of Aussie New Year Broadcast Live To Japan

By DARREN McLEAN

ゴールドコーストの新年は・・・？

As the New Year dawned, Japanese people could tune in to live scenes of New Year celebrations from around the world. For the first time, the Fuji Television network staged an international series of events to show its viewers how different cultures welcomed 1999.

My home city, the Gold Coast, was one location to beam live pictures to a potential Japanese audience of 20 million people. The highlight of the Gold Coast's New Year celebrations and the main feature of the television coverage was the first ever midnight fun run held at the Sea World theme park.

Other live telecasts were sent from Hong Kong, Bangkok and also Tokyo, where similar novel events, all commencing on the stroke of midnight, took place. Fuji Television used the international events to raise money for UNICEF — the United Nations Children's Fund.

As a prelude to the Gold Coast New Year Fun Run a huge crowd was treated to the Sea World dolphin show and water-ski spectacular. When midnight hit, shouts of "Happy New Year" rang out as 750 "fun runners" set off on a 5 kilometer race around Sea World.

It was a dramatic change from usual Australian New Year celebrations, with competitors drinking water and energy drinks rather than alcohol. Apart from a few serious runners, most wore fancy dress.

Some of the more unusual characters in the fun run included Bananas in Pyjamas, Bill Clinton and Monica Lewinsky look-alikes and a Charlie Chaplin impersonator. Although the costumes were not ideal clothing for running, it was clear most competitors were more concerned with enjoying the celebrations than reaching the finish line.

John Anderson, from Murwillumbah, ran the race dressed as a fairy. Anderson said it was one of the most enjoyable and definitely most interesting New Year's Eve nights he had ever had. "It certainly beats going to the pub and waking up with a sore head," Anderson said.

Gary Mayor and Margot Manning from Brisbane were the first male and female competitor respectively, to cross the finish line. Both winners said they were in it for the thrill of the event rather than the competition, however.

"It was a little strange to be running at midnight but it was by far the most enjoyable race I've ever competed in," said Mayor. "The atmosphere was great. Everyone was so ecstatic in that race."

"I have often wanted to go for a run at midnight but I've never had the enthusiasm," said Manning. "Everyone was enthusiastic about this race."

Gold Coast tourism emerged as the real winner from the fun run event, however. The primetime television exposure in Australia's most valuable tourist market was a fantastic way to promote the Gold Coast as a friendly and fun holiday destination for Japanese.

In contrast to the cold New Year's night spent indoors by most Japanese, Australians enjoy the chance to travel to restaurants, bars and parties with family and friends and soak up the festivities and atmosphere on a hot summer's night.

Shots of sunny Gold Coast beaches and New Year partygoers enjoying the lively nightlife were edited into the live coverage of events from Sea World. In total the advertising in Japan had an estimated value of A$12 million (¥840 million) but the benefit to the Gold Coast econo-my will be immeasurable.

Gordon Mallett, general manager of the Gold Coast company organizing the fun run, said the event truly captured the spirit and good will of New Year celebrations in Australia.

"The exposure for the Gold Coast is unprecedented and enormous, with New Year's Eve being the biggest television viewing night of the year in Japan," said Mallett.

Both Japanese and Australian race organizers were thrilled with the outcome of the event and have agreed to hold the fun run again next year for the turn of the millennium.

It is fantastic to see today's technology used to share the fun and good will of New Year celebrations and to bring a piece of Australia's culture into Japanese homes.

Shukan ST: Jan. 15, 1999

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