By Anita Wieman
Policy Advisor - Coordinator ENP Head Office
Through it's Vice President, Silvia Planet Robles and with the assistance and cooperation of the Mossos d'Esquadra, the ENP was offered the unique possibility to have a stand at the exhibition space of the World Police and Fire Games at Barcelona.
Next to this the ENP was invited to attend the opening ceremony of the games, and believe me, this was an experience of its own. When I think back the words overwhelming, impressing are directly in my mind. But at the same time I am thinking about the tremendous organisational work that goes along with such huge event. The organisational skills proved to be superb and I want to compliment all the persons and organisations involved who must have worked so hard to achieve this result. Another remarkable achievement was that the main financial recourses for the games were acquired by means of sponsorship.
With this article I would like to share my impressions of this unique event. I think that the best moment to start with is the torch lit in Greece.
On Friday 18th July the WP&FG torch was lit with the sacred flame at Delphi in Greece. This took place at the archaeological site of the Stadium at the European Cultural Centre of Delphi. Five actors contributed to the enactment with references to the God Hephaistos, God of fire and the forge, as well as Apollo.
In Spain, the WP&FG flag was blessed on 25th July at the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela, this ceremony coincided with the Day of St. James.
On 26th July the torch arrived in Narbonne (France). From there the torch was escorted by the local Gendarmes to the Spanish border. At the border, members of the Catalan Police Force (Mossos d'Esquadra) took over the escort, and later on joined by the official convoy from the Civil Guard, National Police, Barcelona City Police, Catalan Government Fire Department, Barcelona Fire Department, Forestry Department and the Port Police. The convoy stopped at the Town Halls of Mollet del Vallés and Sabadell.
After arrival in Barcelona the torch as well as the WP&FG blessed flag were handed over to the members of the inauguration committee.
In the completely sold out Olympic Stadium on the Montjuďc in Barcelona, 40.000 spectators witnessed that a fly-over by the airforce Aguila Partrol started off the proceedings, following the entrance of the dignitaries headed by his Majesty the King of Spain Juan Carlos, the President of the Catalan Government, Mr. Jordi Pujol and the Mayor of Barcelona, Mr. Joan Clos.
There was a minute's silence in memory of those police and fire fighters who had lost their lives in the line of duty, since the last Games in Indianapolis - 2001.
After that the King of Spain Juan Carlos declared the games open, the parade started, 10.500 athletes, active and retired police and firemen and women from all over the world, entered the stadium led by their national flags. Then the stadium was taken over by devils, fire spitting dragons, fireworks and fire dancers on percussive rhythm, especially composed for this occasion.
The culmination of the opening ceremony was when Fire fighter Rob Carlo entered the stadium, carrying the Olympic Torch in honour of this brother Mike, their colleague and volleyball team mate Timmy Welty and all the others who gave their lives in line of duty on September 11-2001. Rob Carlo lighted the cauldron on the stage while a fire fighter from the Catalan Government Department, spectacularly entered in the stadium in a Helicopter, lit the flame. The flame burned during the eight days' Game.
During these eight days the participants had competition in 64 different sports and events.
The 10th Police & Fire Games were closed with a huge party at the Maria Cristina Avenue and the lightening of three enormous replicas of the Mascot of the games, Drac Bonfire, together with eight different figures, representing the different sport and protection units, the entire installation was 12 metres high, accompanied by immense fireworks.
Quebec will be the hosting City for the next Police and Fire Games in 2005, and Adelaide Australia will host this event in 2007.
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In 1985 the California Police Athletic Federation took the initiative to create the Police & Fire Games, with as aim the promotion of physical fitness and sport within the police and fire fraternity. The Games bring together full time sworn law enforcement officers and fire fighters from around the world.
The Games are held biennially and are open to active and retired law enforcement officers and fire fighters. They compete in 64 different sports, ranging from Archery to Wrestling,
The World Police and Fire Games attract participants from all over the world and this is also one of the ideas behind the competition, to give police officers and fire fighters the opportunity to meet and establish contacts with their colleagues from other countries. For this reason, exhibitions, symposiums and lectures on relevant subjects are held in connection with the Games.
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The first World conference on Security and Prevention was held during the 10th Police and Fire Games in Barcelona. The venue for this 2-days conference was the Palacio de Congresos situated on the Montjuďc.
Taking advance of the large number of professionals from the Safety and Prevention sector present at the Games, a forum was established to debate and exchange experiences on intervention, logistics and the management of resources in disaster and crisis situations.
The following underlying thought formed the basis for this congress.
Our societies are continuously facing crisis situations, whether due or the misuse of resources and technology, we are often confronted with circumstances where life and human rights are seriously threatened. Consequently with each new disaster and emergency situation the concepts of security and prevention have to be re-examined.
This means the joint participation of fire fighters, police, civil protection and emergency medical services must be perfectly coordinated to overcome any type of catastrophe quickly and efficiently.
The Programme of this congress consisted of the following topics:
After Effects; Medical and Social Reconstruction
Experiences and hope
New Challenges dealing with organised delinquency
Crisis in Subterranean Areas
Action and engineering. Heat and experiences
Current situation in the Medical-Psychological Services in Spain
Massive Agglomerations; Sporting and Entertainment
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