Host City: For readers who may not be familiar with the World Police & Fire Games, can you summarize the size and scope of the event – how many sports, venues, participating countries and spectators?
James King: The World Police and Fire Games is a multi-sport, Olympic-style event held specifically for the World’s first responders and public safety. The Games are biennial and began in 1985 in San Jose, California. Birmingham, Alabama was our 21st edition of the Games. The public safety participants hail from over 70 countries, and numbered 8500, to 10,000 plus athletes. The typical offering of sports is 65, with events ranging from the typical Olympic sports such as track and field and swimming to industry specific events such as the Ultimate Firefighter, the full gear stair race, police motorcycle rodeo, and the police service dogs. All events are free to the public and are available during the entire 9-10 days of the Games.
Host City: How was your experience of Birmingham AL as a host? Were there any learnings or legacies of their recent hosting of the World Games that were helpful to your event?
James King: We always learn a great deal from our various hosts and their respective experiences. The World Police and Fire Games have been in a “post covid” period, but our international participant numbers were actually very strong this edition, especially from Brazil and India.
We also learned that you don’t have to be close to the beach to create a great experience, with many competitors stating that the Beach Volleyball competition was one of the best ever. We heard similar remarks about cycling, which was held at Barber motorsports park. We also reinforced our standards by confirming that strategies such as venue clustering always work.
The 21st edition of the WPFG provided many great results in the touch points with our athletes; the “athlete experience” was generally well received.
Host City: What benefits has the Games brought to Birmingham?
James King: Obviously, a key marker is economic impact. I heard personally how happy many restaurant owners and operators were with the number of athlete visitors who dined at the local restaurants. Hotels were also happy with the number of athletes, friends and family members who stayed at their hotels. Typically, US$65,000.00 is a good starting point for the return on investment in hosting the Games. I am sure Birmingham experienced this type of return.
Host City: The next two Games are going to very different destinations. How might hosting the World Police & Fire Games support Ahmedabad’s bid for the Olympics?
James King: Our 2027 WPFG will be held in Perth, Western Australia. The 2029 Games will be held in Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India. It is fair to say that both destinations are quite different from the United States, let alone the deep south of Alabama. However, they share a common thing in that they all have very hospitable and friendly people. I am excited for our athletes and the experiences that lay ahead.
As for Ahmedabad and how hosting the WPFG may support their bid for hosting the Olympics, the World Police and Fire Games offer the opportunity to rehearse operations and evaluate venues on a very large scale, at a greatly reduced price. The 65 sports offered by the WPFG are held to the highest international governing body standards. This includes the venues, officiating, and other critical components of conducting a major international multi-sport event.
Host City: How important is it for you as a rightsholder to learn from and engage with other types of major events around the world?
James King: We offer our athletes an incredible experience, one which I am very proud of. With that said, we are not perfect. We take lessons from all our experiences, both good and bad. One of the best attributes of our Games is that our athletes can network with like individuals from around the globe. The commonalities are uncanny between public safety, be it law enforcement or firefighting. The same is true for event organizers in the sports world. If you are not learning, you are not growing, which means you won’t be around for long.
Why should cities want to bid to host an event like the World Police & Fire Games?
James King: Easy. The World Police and Fire Games showcases the “human element” of public safety and first responders by honoring them on a global stage. We thank those people who serve people. These folks risk their lives daily in the communities that they serve. We provide an outlet for improving both physical and mental health of first responders. The local public safety personnel will experience long-term benefits from the notoriety received from hosting the Games. It is a shot in the arm for essential services.
Additionally, the economic benefits are huge considering the ROI could be many times the initial investment. Our customer athletes pay their own way, eat at local restaurants, stay in hotels, and support the local economy in many ways. It is an equation that has been paying off for the past 40 years.
