The 2012 World Firefighters Games

An international call has gone out for firefighters to assemble in Sydney, Australia, for the 12th World Firefighters Games.

The 55-sport biannual event was spectacularly launched in the vibrant harbour city in July 2011 in the presence of some of the world’s most eminent firefighting administrators from seven countries–the high-powered “Board of Champions”—as well as government and sponsor representatives and a host of Australia’s elite sporting champions.

From October 19-29, 2012, Sydney will be the place to be, as an expected 10,000 full- and part-time career and volunteer firefighters will compete in one of the world’s largest participation sporting events.

Elite competitors will include the reigning 2010 world champions from Korea, the winners of Europe’s “Toughest Firefighter Alive” (TFA) competition, and the top performers from 2011’s New York Police and Fire Games.

The Sydney Harbour Bridge

Home to one of the world’s most stunning harbours and blessed by a sunny, near-perfect climate, Sydney’s setting alone is perfect for the Games. Although the Games have been held in many  venues biannually for more than 20 years, the city of Sydney was chosen because it is the most spectacular city in Australia and, arguably, the world. The Games were last held in the United States in Las Vegas, Nevada, in 1994.

The city’s 2000 Olympics have left a legacy of world-class sporting facilities, enabling participants access to Olympic-standard facilities for the very first time.

Walter Lehmann, PBI Performance Products’ Senior Vice President of Sales & Marketing–New Markets, said, “Beyond a doubt, the most exciting event in the Games will be the “Toughest Firefighter Alive,” which will take place in the Olympic Village at Darling Harbour. PBI sponsored the regional TFA in Germany last summer and it drew firefighters from all over Europe.  Any firefighter can sign up for this event.”
 
He continued, “Some of the more exotic events that would normally not come to mind for ‘Olympic’ events would be Deep Sea Fishing, Billiards, Darts, Horse Shoes, and Paintball. However, the Games include all of the predictable athletic competitions that one would expect. There is a total of 55 events, many of them being held in the 2000 Sydney Olympic venues and facilities. As a stunning beach and harbour city, many of the water events will be held on the world famous beaches and olympic water sites from 2000 including, swimming, surfing, and canoeing.

PBI Performance Products, a sponsor of many firefighter sports competitions all over the world, became involved with the Games in 2000 as sponsors of its golf competition. “This has been the company’s primary sponsorship prior to my becoming involved as the North American ‘Board of Champions’ director for the Sydney Games,” Lehmann said. PBI has sponsored events in all World Firefighter Games since then including Christchurch, New Zealand; Sheffield, England; Hong Kong, China; Liverpool, England; and Daegu, Korea.

Lehmann concluded, “The beauty of the Games is that there is no competitive separation between volunteer and career firefighters. The spirit of the Games is to unite firefighters from all over the world, not just for sports competition, but also for comradery and fellowship among male and female firefighters from all over the globe.”

Events such as athletics and swimming will be held at Olympic Park whilst beach volleyball, surf lifesaving and beach cricket will be held on iconic Coogee Beach.

Many other events such as tug of war, arm wrestling, body building, and the coveted TFA will take place right in the center of the city’s entertainment and accommodation precinct at Darling Harbour.

And while the competition will be hot during the day, things will be just as hot when the sun goes down.

Nightly entertainment will feature some of Australia’s and the world’s biggest musical acts and spectacular opening and closing ceremonies are already in the advanced planning stages.

Accommodation is not a problem either with Sydney boasting some of the best accommodation in the world with more than 18,000 rooms in three-, four-, and five-star hotels, along with world-class hostels and low-budget accommodation.

Transport is a breeze and the food, shopping, watering holes, tourist attractions, and natural environment are second-to-none.

Access to the rest of Australia is also easy for after-games holiday adventures.

The 2012 World Firefighters Games are supported by Destination NSW through Events NSW on behalf of the NSW Government, V Australia, and Moves Travel. 

We look forward to welcoming you all to Sydney 2012! In keeping with tradition, the Games’ next venue will be announced at the Sydney Launch on October 19. 

Fantastic deals are now on offer through the Web site www.worldfirefightersgames.com.au. 

View the World Firefighters Games PowerPoint presentation HERE.

Photos courtesy of PBI Performance Products.