Despite all of our current challenges, the momentum is really building for this year’s World Police and Fire Games in August, now less than 200 days away.
This promises to be the biggest and most exciting sporting event which Northern Ireland will ever experience. We are expecting around 10,000 competitors, accompanied by 15,000 family and friends, taking part in 57 sporting events across 42 venues. I want for a moment to speak to my international followers, some of whom may be having second thoughts as a result of watching some of the media pictures of the recent protests and disorder associated with the removal of the Union Flag from Belfast City Hall.
Already we have 1,859 competitors registered, many of whom are team captains, and when you take into account their team colleagues this would bring the numbers up to about 3,500. Over £2m has been generated already with hotel bookings, over 6,400 volunteers have enlisted to help and we are currently going through a selection and training process to ensure that they can support us in making this the very best and friendliest games ever.
I want to reassure you that the majority of recent protests have been entirely peaceful and any disorder has been isolated to a number of very small areas, mainly in one particular area of East Belfast. The vast majority of areas across Northern Ireland have been totally unaffected. In fact you could be in Belfast City Centre and be totally oblivious that there had been any trouble at all. There has also been some disruption to traffic but this has been largely dealt with by the Police.
Last week, we hosted a visit of World Police and Fire Games competitors from Canada, USA, Spain, Germany and England and when I met with them, each of the visitors said that they had been overwhelmed by the warm welcome they have received. Several said specifically they had such an amazing time visiting some our tourist attractions that they plan to bring their families with them in August. Our visitors saw first hand everything that Northern Ireland has to offer and all of them said that they would absolutely be coming to Belfast in August, with many planning to stay longer to experience everything that Ireland, both North and South, has to offer. You can see a short video of some of their comments at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UA4xJZyF6Tc
To keep up to date with all the very latest developments I would encourage you to visit the website at www.2013wpfg.com or follow WPFG on Facebook or twitter - at www.facebook.com/2013wpfg and www.twitter.com/2013wpfg
Northern Ireland is a very safe place. In fact, overall crime levels are at their lowest level for many years and the Police Service will always put public safety first. We have worked and will continue to work closely with local communities to minimise any disorder and disruption, and to ensure appropriate resources are in place to keep people safe. Over the weekend I am pleased to say that those few protests which did take place were peaceful.
Our aim is to deliver the friendliest Games ever and we remain very confident that we will do so. We look forward to August so that we can welcome thousands of visitors from across the world so they can experience the kind of warm welcome that Northern Ireland is famous for.
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