Over 6,700 athletes and other accredited guests from 67 countries were in Belfast for the first 10 days of August, taking part in the World Police and Fire Games (WPFG).
The Northern Ireland capital delivered the third largest international multi-sport event in the world. It adds to a list of big sport events, including the IAAF World Cross Country and Boxing World Championships, successfully held in the city.
The Belfast Wateont Convention Centre was one of 41 city venues used to host 56 sports.
Northern Ireland’s only purpose-built conference centre housed the registration booths and the gallery areas housed exhibition stands for both trade and sponsors.
Kenneth McDonald, a member of the Irish team who set a new WPFG world record time of 6.23 minutes in indoor rowing at Belfast Wateont, said: “The Games have been brilliant, very friendly, professional and well run, far superior to the New York Games.”
John Tully, Chief Executive of 2013 WPFG, said: “We are delighted that our aim to deliver the ‘friendliest’ Games ever has been achieved. All venues selected have met and indeed exceeded our expectations. The Wateont in particular has been an excellent multi-purpose location.”
Jennifer Patterson, Revenue and Business Generation Manager at the Wateont, added: “It is a great honour to have been part of such a spectacular world-class sporting event. This project has been seven years in the making and it has been exciting to see years of hard work and preparation come to fruition. Our expansion plans in 2016 will enable us to facilitate even larger international events and further enhance our competitiveness as a conference destination.”
Lord Mayor of Belfast, Councillor Máirtín Ó Muilleoir, registered some of the competitors personally and said he was “delighted” to welcome the WPFG to the city. “Being the largest ever sporting event to take place here, the Games will deliver an economic boost for our city”.
WPFG will next be hosted in 2015 in Faix, Virginia in the US.
Do you have news for CN? Email: pcolston@mashmedia.net
