2015 World Police & Fire Games To Kick Off on Friday

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Image: The World Police & Fire Games will include a variety of track and field events (Shutterstock).

Release: Fairfax County Police Department

The Fairfax County Police Department encourages residents to join us as we embark upon the World Police & Fire Games events beginning this week. The World Police & Fire Games celebrate the honor, courage, athleticism and camaraderie of first responders from around the world.

The games are expected to draw almost 10,000 athletes from police, fire and other public safety agencies representing all 50 states and more than 70 countries across the world. There will be 60 medal events at 54 venues, primarily in Fairfax County.

After several years of extensive coordination and planning, the games begin at 6 p.m. Friday with an opening ceremony at RFK Stadium. All are welcome to attend the free concert, by entertainer Sugar Ray, and the presentation ceremony. Order your free tickets here.

Approximately 200 police department athletes will participate in the games, including soccer, hockey, baseball, wrestling, paintball, dodgeball, bowling and dozens of other activities. A comprehensive guide to the games is available here.

Most events are free and open to the public. Bring the whole family to watch the excitement and cheer on local public safety personnel.

A few highlights:

• The bodybuilding competition begins at noon Saturday at the George Mason University Center for the Arts. Enjoy this rare and unique opportunity to watch as 86 competitors from across the globe compete at the daylong event.
• Interested in hockey? Come watch the best-of-the-best glide across the ice at rinks in Prince William County, Reston and Ashburn at games between 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Saturday, Sunday and Monday.
• Grab your family or a friend and come experience the thrills of the loud, precision movements of motorcyclists at the Dulles Expo Center, on Route 28 in Chantilly, on Saturday starting at 9 a.m.

Watch our public safety personnel as they angle, pitch, box, bowl, run, cycle, swim, row and bench-press their way to victory. Enjoy this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to introduce your family this week to a variety of exciting competitions here in Fairfax County.