First responders from across the globe, including several members of the Brussels Fire Brigade, are currently participating in the World Police and Fire Games in Winnipeg, Canada.
A total of 28 firefighters from Brussels are currently taking part in the 10-day event, which kicked off last Friday (28 July) and will go on until 6 August, the fire brigade's spokesperson Walter Derieuw announced.
"Our athletes have already won five gold and one silver medal in cycling and one bronze medal in the Dragon Boat discipline (rowing)," he said.
More than 8,500 athletes representing firefighters and police officers from over 60 countries will be going head to head in 63 sport competitions – from archery, athletics and badminton to bodybuilding, golfing, judo, rugby and table tennis.
Credit: Walter Derieuw/ Brussels Fire Brigade
The Olympic-style competition, which is a celebration of firefighters and law enforcement officers worldwide, is held every two years and was founded and hosted several times in the United States. Past host countries include Australia, Canada, China, Northern Ireland, Spain, and Sweden.
Local media have reported that the event has sparked controversy, as approximately 300 officers from Hong Kong were invited to compete in the 2023 games despite the reported repression of citizens who participated in recent pro-democracy movements.
