What’s the largest international sporting event taking place in British Columbia this year? No, it’s not the 2010 Olympic Winter Games; they begin next February. But if you said “the 2009 World Police & Fire Games,” give yourself a pat on the back—and keep your wallet in your back pocket.

For 10 days this summer (July 31 – August 9), B.C. is definitely the place to be for more than 60 different sporting events—everything from badminton to bench pressing, freshwater angling to curling, darts to a decathlon, field lacrosse to flag football, handball to horseshoes, skeet to soccer, table tennis to taekwondo, wrist wrestling to an epic tug-o-war, and much more. WHEW. More than 10,000 athletes, in fact, will compete in events that will be held across the Lower Mainland, from Chilliwack to Whistler. And guess what? Attendance is free.

World Police & Fire Games (WPFG) competitors not only hail from British Columbia but from around the world, making this a truly international competition. The first games took place in 1985; cities that have hosted the biennial event include Memphis, San Diego, Barcelona, Stockholm, Melbourne and Quebec City. The size and scope of the games continues to grow, and this year’s WPFG promises to be the biggest yet. Athletes pay their own way and bring their families and friends along; some seasoned competitors will be notching an eighth or ninth trip on their games belt. And these games are refreshingly inclusive, with everyone from twenty-somethings to septuagenarians taking part. 

The breadth of the events is impressive. Everyone’s heard of ice hockey, with action at the much-anticipated hockey tournament taking place at three venues: the Burnaby 8 Rinks and Bill Copeland Arena in Burnaby, and CanLan Ice Sports in North Vancouver. But what exactly is a muster? I’m glad you asked. This is a traditional firefighters’ competition in which a team of six people—five pulling a cart and one carrying a sheathed axe and nozzle—run 100 yards to a hydrant and make a connection with a fire hose. The cart is then pulled another 100 feet to a nozzle line, at which point the axe and nozzle team member continues to a target area, imbedding the axe in a wooden block. Two other team members make the nozzle connection, the cart is brought to a complete stop and the hose directed at the target from a distance of 50 feet. The winner is the first team that knocks down the target. This is a capsule description, since I’ve never actually witnessed a muster. You can, though; the event—part of Ultimate Weekend—takes place at Vancouver’s Plaza of Nations on August 9.

The stair race is another event that had me scratching my head until I checked the WPFG rules. It’s another traditional firefighters’ competition in which competitors in regular gear (T-shirts and running apparel) and full gear (firefighting equipment consisting of helmet, coat, pants, gloves and boots) attempt to ascend a series of stairs from designated starting to finish lines in the shortest amount of time. This event ought to offer compelling proof that firefighters are probably the best conditioned rescue workers on the planet. The action unfolds at Vancouver’s Sheraton Wall Centre on July 31. The Grouse Grind Mountain Race is another endurance test where competitors slog to the top of steep, 2,800-foot Grouse Mountain (in North Vancouver) via a rigorous 2.9-kilometer marked trail. I’m getting winded just typing that. But there’s light at the end of this grueling tunnel: a tram ride back down. It happens August 5. What makes the World Police & Fire Games so special, however, is not the thrill of victory or the agony of defeat; it’s the fact that the competitors are real-life heroes. They represent police and fire agencies as well as corrections and border services personnel. They’re the people who protect communities, towns, cities.  Many of them put their lives on the line on a daily basis, fearlessly running into emergency situations so that the rest of us can safely run out. The games provide a chance for regular folks to come out and offer a heartfelt show of support by cheering on these brave men and women. Event sponsors play key roles in both funding the games and delivering a world-class experience. The British Columbia Automobile Association (BCAA) has established a program that aids law enforcement officers and firefighters around the province while directly supporting the games’ Legacy Fund, which benefits three local charities. And BCAA’s Group Affinity Program is open to fans as well as athletes; every time program members purchase insurance and travel products from the club they save money in addition to helping leave a legacy. You can also get involved by volunteering. To learn more, visit http://www.2009wpfg.ca/. Questions? Send them to the WPFG’s resident expert at askjill@2009wpfg.ca.