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Over 10,500 athletes attended the World Police & Fire Games (WPFG) held in Vancouver, British Columbia from July 31st to August 9th. Making it the second best attended games in WPFG history next to Barcelona. Over 2,300 medals were handed out to competitors in 64 events at over 40 venues. Events were divided into men's, women's, open and novice categories. Ice hockey drew over 100 teams.
Competitors came from all over the world as far away as Australia, Russia, Jamaica, China, India, Trinidad & Tobago, Greece, Estonia, Polynesia, Ukraine, Wales and Peru. The majority of the athletes were from Canada and the USA.
To put things in comparison the upcoming Winter Olympics also coming to Vancouver in Feb 2010 only has 3,500 athletes, a third of the WPFG. Admission to all events was free to the public and over 30,000 spectators attended the events.
Opening ceremonies began with a parade of athletes to GM Place where the crowd was entertained by singers Randy Bachman of BTO & The Guess Who fame and blues singer Jim Byrnes to name a few. It culminated with the lighting of the torch. As well as the games there was a trade show, a vendor area and beer garden with a stage for entertainers.
On a side note seven members of the Men's Finnish Hockey Team intervened when they saw a bus driver being assaulted.
The suspect ran but they chased him for two blocks and arrested him. When the suspect realized that they were not Canadian police he tried to tell them they couldn't hold him and to let him go, screaming "you can't hold me!"
Wrong! … a cop is a cop no matter where he goes in the world - the bad guy went to jail. The next WPFG will be held in New York City in 2011, mark your calendars now.
Sgt. Steve Gibson (retired Vancouver Police Dept.) is the publisher of Cop to Cop News. For more information visit www.CopToCopNews.com or email Steve at
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