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GAMING GRANT TO SUPPORT B.C. ATHLETIC TEAM DOWN
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BURNABY – With the support of a $300,000 community gaming grant, a team made up of police, firefighters and other law enforcement and emergency responders will travel to Australia next year to compete in a variety of sports at the 12th World Police and Fire Games, Solicitor General John Les and Burquitlam MLA Harry Bloy said today.
“The people who keep our communities safe are world-class professionals who respond day and night to the needs of British Columbians,” said Les. “They are also terrific athletes who train hard so they can perform with a high level of skill on the job. The team of 200 we are sending will join more than 10,000 athletes from more than 60 countries to show the world what they can do. I’m sure that our B.C. team will do us proud and bring home numerous medals.”
The World Police and Fire Games are open to active or retired members of the public safety community including police officers, firefighters, corrections officers and custom officials. Traditional Olympic sports such as swimming, track and field and soccer are contested, as well as other sports like dragon boat racing and bodybuilding. The event is second only to the Summer Olympics in terms of size. Team BC is composed of participants from all corners of the province. The games will be held in Adelaide, Australia from March 16 to 25, 2007.
In 2009, the games will be held throughout various sites in the Lower Mainland area from July 31 to Aug. 9.
“The 2009 Games will put us on the international must-see events list and I congratulate the two visionaries who first approached me to discuss supporting the Games – firefighters Jeff Clark and Miles Ritchie,” said Bloy. “We estimate that we will need around 6,000 volunteers to deliver these games in a way that will ensure that these are the best World Police and Fire Games in history, so there is a role for everybody.”
“Funding from the gaming grant being announced today will provide a wonderful opportunity for our athletes to attend Australia as great ambassadors for our Games,” said Chad Turpin, CEO of the 2009 Games organizing committee. “They will promote B.C. to the world by competing and participating in athletic events, non-sporting events and official ceremonies.”
The legacy beneficiaries from the 2009 Games are the Professional Firefighters Burn Fund, Law Enforcement Torch Run for Special Olympics and KidSport BC. Organizers estimate that about 14,000 athletes from all over the world will participate at the 2009 event and the Games are expected to have an economic impact of $50-$100 million in the Lower Mainland area.
The revenue for this grant is generated from commercial gaming conducted by the British Columbia Lottery Corporation on behalf of the Province. For more information on the gaming industry and how gaming grants benefit individuals and organizations in the province, visit the gaming website: www.pssg.gov.bc.ca/gaming/
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Public Affairs Bureau 250 356-6961 |
Constituency Assistant (MLA Bloy) 604 933-2077 |
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For more information on government services or to subscribe to the Province’s news feeds using RSS, visit the Province’s website at www.gov.bc.ca. |
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