Looking back on the friendliest and best Games ever

There have been many very memorable events in my policing career, but the 10 days of the World Police and Fire Games (WPFG) are a definite highlight.

I have received many letters and messages of support from local and international competitors, their friends and family members, colleagues and members of the public. Apart from the shameful disorder in Belfast last Friday evening, the Games should be celebrated as one of the most positive recent events in Northern Ireland's history.

I want to say, as Chair of the World Police and Fire Games Board, how much I and everyone taking part appreciated how the Northern Ireland public welcomed our visitors, embraced them and supported them. Many of them have spoken of their desire to come back again. In the words of Mike Graham, President of the World Police and Fire Games Federation, it truly was 'the friendliest and best Games ever'.

I have to pay tribute to the work of the WPFG Planning Team and of course to our patron Dame Mary Peters who has been such an amazing ambassador for the Games. You only had to listen and see the reception Dame Mary received everywhere she went, to understand why she was such a fantastic advocate for the Games.

I was delighted also to see how successful my Police Service of Northern Ireland colleagues and the other members of Team NI were. It was a great opportunity for members of the police, fire and prisons services to come together in sport instead of the often challenging professional circumstances that bring them together. Team NI netted a very commendable 54 Gold, 47 Silver and 40 Bronze medals, placing us 8th on the medal table out of 67.

I also had the pleasure of competing with a German colleague in the Indoor Mixed Rowing at the Waterfront Hall and whilst we didn't bring home a medal for Team NI, it was a fantastic experience and one which I will not forget. I have also developed many new international friendships.

We often talk about the 'legacy' of major events such as these Games but question what the actual benefit is in real terms. I have no doubt, based on my experiences of the past few weeks that the international reputation of Northern Ireland has been greatly enhanced as a place of welcome and beauty - A wonderful place that people want to come back to.

As a citizen of Northern Ireland, born and bred in the great City of Belfast, it saddens me that our worldwide reputation of warmly welcoming strangers, was jeopardised and in stark contrast to the naked sectarianism which culminated in the totally reprehensible violence and attacks on police officers last Friday.

Everyone must work together to ensure that there is no repetition of this violence. You can be assured that your police service will be playing its part in this regard.

Welcoming the start of the World Police & Fire Games 2013

I have spent the last two days at the World Police and Fire Games (WPFG) pre conference at Titanic in Belfast. It was a privilege forBelfast to host over 200 local and international visitors to discuss ‘Partnerships in Safety; Building Safe & Just Societies’.

It’s hard to believe that almost six years after Northern Ireland bid to host the World Police and Fire Games, that the day of its opening is finally here.  All we need is the sun to come back for a few hours!

Over the next ten days, nearly 7,000 competitors, from 66 countries will compete in 56 sports across 41 venues.  The atmosphere and anticipation are absolutely fabulous and if you have been in and around Belfast City over the past few days, the streets are alive with local people in WPFG regalia alongside international competitors and their supporters wearing crested team clothing from across the globe. 

I have already visited a number of locations to speak to the WPFG staff, who have been working around the clock to deliver the Games – a number of them have been involved right from the bidding stage.  I have also spoken to many of the 3,500 volunteers who have given of their time, free of charge, to help us make sure that all the competitors are supported and assisted and that all the sporting events run as planned.  I want to particularly thank them for the fantastic work which they are doing – without them the Games simply would not have been possible. 

If the Ice Hockey, which has been running from last week, is anything to go by, everyone including our competitors and spectators are in for a real treat.  I am really looking forward to getting to visit as many of the events as I can over the coming days and also to taking part in a few of them myself!

The Games is just one of a number of high profile events which Northern Ireland has hosted over the past few years.  This is yet another opportunity to put Northern Ireland and Belfast on the international stage for all the right reasons. Over the next few weeks I hope that you will make all our visitors very welcome..

All Games information is available on the WPFG website at www.2013wpfg.com where you can select a sport and find out everything you need to know including a detailed schedule of each event and a venue map.  You can also follow the Games on Facebook www.facebook.com/2013WPFG

and Twitter www.twitter.com/2013WPFG

So why not come along and show your support to your local police officers, fire fighters and prison officers as they compete for Team Northern Ireland.  This is your chance to experience the third largest sporting event in the world and the first ever time the Games have taken place in the United Kingdom. 

Spectating is free and there are some unique events you will not find in any other Games, so why not plan to be a part of the ‘friendliest Games’ ever.