QM Magazine Spring 2012 - Police Sport UK

Preparations are well underway in Belfast for the 2013
World Police and Fire Games (WPFG). The event takes
place from 1 to 10 August 2013, with the aim of
attracting 25,000 visitors to Northern Ireland from over
70 countries.
The Games are the third largest international multi-sport event
in the world and they are almost three times the size of the
Commonwealth Games in terms of competitor numbers. The
2013 event will be the biggest sporting event ever staged in
Northern Ireland, and indeed on the island of Ireland. It will
2013 Sports (Provisional List)
Background
Countdown to the 2013
World Police and Fire Games
The WPFG is a biennial sports event organised for serving and
retired police, prison, fire and uniformed customs and border
agency staff. Their aim is to promote physical fitness and
camaraderie within the services around the world.
The first Games took place in San Jose in 1985 and they
became international in 1989 when they were held outside
USA for the first time in Vancouver. Stockholm was the first
European country to host the Games in 1999. The record for
the highest number of sporting entries was in 2011, when
over 18,000 competitors took part in the event in New York.
The countdown to the 2013 Games began in earnest with the
handover of the World Games flag at the closing ceremony of
the 2011 New York Games. WPFG Federation President Mike
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QM Police Sport UK
inject at least £15.5m into the Northern Irish economy,
providing a welcome boost to the tourism, hospitality and
other service sectors.
The 2013 Games will include an estimated 10,000 participants
competing in around 65 sports. The final plans for all sports
and venues are currently being finalised, but this should be
announced in June 2012. The provisional list of sports (which
are subject to change) are listed below, and it is anticipated
that registration for competitors will open in November 2012.
10 Pin Bowling Canoeing Judo Rifle (Large Bore) Swimming (Ind.) Wrestling
20/20 Cricket Cross Country Karate Rifle (Small Bore) Table Tennis Wrist Wrestling
5 a-side Football Cycling Lawn Bowls Road Race Taekwondo
Angling (Coarse) Darts Mountain Biking Rowing (Indoor) Tennis
Angling (Salt) Dragon Boat Mountain Running Rugby (Touch) Toughest Competitor Alive
Archery Field Hockey Muster Rugby 7's Track and Field
Badminton Flag Football Netball Sailing Trap
Basketball (3*3) Football Open Swim Water Skeet Triathlon
Basketball (5*5) Gaelic Football Orienteering Softball Tug of War
Bench Press Golf Pistol (Police Action) Sporting Clays Ultimate Firefighter
Biathlon Handball Pistol (PPC) Squash Volleyball
Body Building Horse Shoes Pistol Centre Fire Stair Race Volleyball (Beach)
Boxing Ice Hockey Pocket Billiards (Pool) Surfing Water Polo
Facts and Figures
65 sports10,000 competitors 25,000 visitors 70 countries 10 days
WPFG Federation President Mike Graham handing over the
Games flag to PSNI Chief Constable Matt Baggott, NI Fire and
Rescue Chief Fire Officer Peter Craig and Deputy Director
General of NI Prison Service Max Murray
Graham officiated at the ceremony, with Police Service NI
Chief Constable Matt Baggott, NI Fire and Rescue Chief Fire
Officer Peter Craig and Deputy Director General of NI Prison
Service Max Murray accepting the flag on behalf of the
uniformed services in Northern Ireland.
Belfast
The Police Service Northern Ireland (PSNI) rugby team
competing at the 2011 New York Games
Belfast is now a popular short-break destination and has
established itself as one of Europe's top visitor destinations.
National Geographic's prestigious 'Traveller' magazine
included the city in its top 20 'Best of the World' list in
November 2011. It described the city as a 'treasure' with an
'incredible atmosphere'.
Getting to Northern Ireland has never been easier. Belfast is
served by two airports – Belfast International Airport, which is
17 miles north west of Belfast, and George Best Belfast City
Airport, which is just three miles east of the city centre.
The Northern Ireland 'Tridents' Ice Hockey Club, which is
composed of members from the emergency services and HM Prisons
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QM Police Sport UK
Regular scheduled ferry services to Belfast and Larne (35
minutes north of Belfast) operate from Stranraer, Troon and
Cairnryan in Scotland, Fleetwood and Birkenhead in England
and Douglas in The Isle of Man.
There are also preferential accommodation rates available to
competitors in the 2013 Games. To browse options or book
your accommodation,
go to www.2013wpfg.com/accommodation
For further information about how to get to Belfast and
what to do when you get there,
go to www.gotobelfast.com
More information
If you wish to be kept up-to-date regularly on developments
for the 2013 Games, you can follow 2013 WPFG on Facebook
and Twitter. You can also receive periodic email updates by
registering your interest on the official website.
For more information go to
www.2013wpfg.com, email info@2013wpfg.com