Northern Ireland Fire & Rescue Service, Fire Safety Advice, Fire Safety Training, Health and Safety

Approximately 100 competitors from the north of Ireland will participate in New York from 26 August - 5 September 2011 in a number of disciplines including tennis, golf, cycling and rowing. This is the largest team from the north of Ireland to ever travel to the World Police and Fire Games.

Speaking tonight at a special Stormont reception, Sports Minister Carál Ní Chuilín said: "I welcome the opportunity to give best wishes to the athletes who are competing in the World Police and Fire Games in New York next week. These Games are now recognised as one of the largest sporting events in the world and in just two years time local athletes will be competing on home soil when Belfast hosts the Games in 2013."

Continuing the Minister said: "I believe everyone in the north will realise the potential benefits to be gained here in 2013. There will undoubtedly be economic benefits to our local communities and businesses but there will also be social benefits through bringing communities together through sport. "The world is finally catching on to what we already knew. The north of Ireland has the people, the locations and the facilities to host international sporting events. We must encourage more events like this to consider the north as a potential host."

Justice Minister David Ford added his best wishes to the team. He said: "I would like to wish our team the best of luck. The competitors from the Police, Prison and Fire Services, will not only be competing on the world stage in their respective sports but they will also be ambassadors in New York ahead of 2013. I look forward to following their progress and to seeing the Games come to Northern Ireland in 2013."

Public Safety Minister Edwin Poots said: "This is a very exciting opportunity, not only for the firefighters and policemen and women who will be taking part, but also for Northern Ireland as a whole. It will highlight the very best of what Northern Ireland has to offer to the rest of the world. Our firefighters and policemen and women are courageous and brave and absolutely deserve their moment in the spotlight. I would like to wish them all the best during the 2011 Games in New York and I hope they enjoy every minute of the experience."

Chief Fire Officer and Vice Chair of WPFG Ltd Peter Craig, said: "On behalf of 2013 WPFG Ltd I wish the Team every success during the 2011 Games in New York. I am hopeful that the Team will increase their medal tally of 64 which was won in Vancouver in 2009 and I look forward to watching the Games and celebrating the many successes to come. We look forward to building on our experience in New York in preparation for Belfast hosting the Games in 2013."

Dame Mary Peters, Patron for 2013 WPFG, said: "The 2013 Games present us with a unique opportunity to demonstrate to the world that the north of Ireland is moving forward. The Games will showcase us as a venue for major sporting occasions, as a tourist destination, as a place to do business and as a place which can extend a warm welcome to the thousands of competitors and their families, who are set to converge here in the summer of 2013."

In conclusion Minister Ní Chuilín thanked Chair of WPFG Ltd Duncan McCausland, the Board of Directors of the company and all those involved behind the scenes with the delivery of the 2013 Games. The Minister recognised the work done to date and the work which will be put in to delivery the Games in two years time. She said: "Together we can make 2013 a success and the new company with its Board of Directors and its new Chief Executive will lead the way."

ENDS

Notes to editors:

1. The World Police and Fire Games is a biennial event, which is organised for all 'sworn law enforcement officers'. This includes, police, fire, customs, prison service and some smaller enforcement agencies such as coastguard services and drug enforcement agencies.

2. The 2011 team competing in New York comprises of officers both serving and retired from the PSNI, Prison Service and the Fire & Rescue Service.

3. Each of the Services has its own team manager. Whilst retaining their own identity, the services will once again travel as a team.

4. The Games last for 10 days and include a wide range of individual and team sports such as athletics, football, swimming, rugby, field and Ice Hockey, shooting, rowing, tennis, golf, 10 pin and lawn bowls, cycling etc.

5. The number of competitors is expected to be in the region of 13,000 and come from all round the world with a huge influx from north and South America, Australia, New Zealand and mainland Europe.

6. There are approximately 100 competitors from the north of Ireland taking part in the 2011 games in New York. The three services competing are PSNI, Fire & Rescue and Prison Service.

7. The closing ceremony in New York will take place on 4 September and then the flag will be officially handed to Belfast for the 2013 Games which will take place between 1-10 August 2013.

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