Games in NI

by Mark Rowe

Belfast will host the World Police and Fire Games from August 1 to 10, 2013 when the city expects 25,000 visitors, including 10,000 competitors from around 70 countries. World Police and Fire Games (WPFG) is described by organisers as the third largest multi-sport event in the world (after the Olympics and the World Masters). In terms of competitor numbers the Games are said to be three times the size of the Commonwealth Games. The Games will include 66 sports covering 42 venues across Northern Ireland.

The Games are a biennial event, commonly referred to as the ‘Olympics’ for serving and retired police, fire, prison and border security officers. The first Games were held in 1985, and they were established by a body known as the World Police and Fire Games Federation, based in San Diego. The Federation are the equivalent of the International Olympics Committee, and the event is in fact a franchise. Belfast won the right to stage these Games following a very competitive bid process back in 2007. This is the first time that the Games will be hosted on the British Isles and indeed only the third time in their 28 year history that they will be hosted in Europe.

Olympic Gold medallist Dame Mary Peters is Patron of 2013 WPFG. Expected are 10,000 competitors plus 15,000 friends and family from 70 countries to visit Belfast to take part in the Games. Volunteering will also be at the heart of our Games, with our very own ‘Team 2013’ of 3,500 volunteers representing ‘the Spirit of the Games’. To date over 5,000 have registered to volunteer. A Schools’ Programme has been designed as a free resource for every school in Northern Ireland. Schools will be invited to ‘adopt a team’ from the various international services taking part. There are several service-specific events such as Ultimate Firefighter, Muster, Toughest Competitor Alive and Stair Climb.

The 42 venues were selected as part of a competitive exercise and had to be approved by the World Police and Fire Games Federation. Outside Belfast there are events in areas such as North Down, Newcastle, Newtownabbey, Cookstown and the north coast. The opening and closing ceremonies will take place in a purpose-built mini stadium in Titanic Quarter. The athletes’ village will be at Custom House Square.

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