Policemen and firefighters from around the world traded in their work uniforms for athletic ones at the World Police and Fire Games in New York. All goals and medals are being dedicated to 9/11 victims.
Ice hockey teams from Russia and Canada have already gone head to head, with the Canadians taking the gold. The game ended 3-1. The players said they were battling for more than just a gold medal – their main goal was to pay tribute to the victims of September 11, 2001, as the Games respectfully coincided with the 10-year anniversary of the tragedy.
The final competitions are set for this weekend, including such disciplines as beach volleyball and the multi-day “Toughest Competitor Alive” event.
The World Police and Fire Games, which officially opened in New York City on August 26, will hold its closing ceremonies on Sunday.
The competition hosts 15,000 sportsmen in 65 athletic events annually, and is currently the second largest multi-sport event in the world, surpassed only by the Summer Olympics.
“Sport and friendly competition, as expressed through the World Police and Fire Games, has the ability to overcome national boundaries and political ideals, replacing it with a camaraderie that has no borders,” the event’s website proclaims.
The World Police and Fire Games are a biennial athletic event open to active and retired law enforcement and fire service personnel throughout the world. The first games were held in 1985 in San Jose, California, attracting nearly 5,000 competitors.