World Police and Fire Games come to Belfast.. in 2013
Belfast will host the biennial World Police and Fire Games in 2013. In the BBC report Dame Mary Peters is quoted from Adelaide were this year’s competition is being held – “We had a very strong bid team; the lord mayor, the Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure. We had the deputy chief constable, the head of the Prison Service, the head of the Fire Service and others.” In 2009 the event moves to British Columbia. The Secretary of State for Wales etc wasted no time in praising just about everyone concerned.. Of course, by 2013, everyone here will have fully endorsed the police.. Oh, and the other bid on the final shortlist of two.. Innsbruck..Adds Before being whittled down to the final two bids, there were a few other cities on the shortlist
The Games are held every two years and Belfast was one of five shortlisted cities along with Washington and Denver in the US, Calgary in Canada and Innsbruck in Austria.
By the time the delegations reached Australia is was down to a straight fight between Belfast and Innsbruck.
Hopefully by then we will have a world class sporting stadium in Belfast City.
Hopefully by then we will have a world class sporting stadium in Belfast City.
Yeah, Joe because this will pack it out.
Dec – lol
From the bbc link – “t is estimated that the games could boost the economy by about £25m”.
£25m?! What have they based this estimation on? An explosion in the popularity of sports featuring only the police and fire brigade? Have Sky bought the TV rights yet?
I bet Seb Coe et al are kicking themselves that they have the Olympics only one year before.
Congrats to all involved. I was talking to Pat about it last week- obviously they did a good job convincing the games organisers to plump for Belfast. I’m no expert on it, but according to Wikipedia “Participation is approximately 10,000 entrants, slightly fewer than the Summer Olympic Games, and exceeding the third position holder, the Commonwealth Games,” which would probably explain the boost to the economy line.
El Mat – fair enough, and I see on the bbc link that a total visitor count is 25,000.
Is there enough accomodation? Or will they build some temporary village?
Are CRJ going to field a squad? ahem
Pete: Of course, by 2013, everyone here will have fully endorsed the police..
Are you sure? Will the DUP have endorsed the GardaÃ?
Sorry, that was as bad as latcheeco’s comment.
Think The six counties DAAD team will do well in the shooting and the hammer!
It’s a stroke of luck that the Police Games are taking place at the same time as the Fire Games just in case the pyromaniacs get out of hand