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.