Background

Concept

The World Firefighters Games is a major international sporting event initiated by an American entrepreneur and a committee of international firefighters as an alternative to the World Police & Fire Games.

Ownership

Former private owner a non-firefighter. World Firefighters Games WA Inc purchased the rights to the World Firefighters Games in February 1993 for the benefit of all firefighters and not an individual. World Firefighters Games WA Inc is a non-profit organisation staffed by volunteer workers who are either employees or retirees of the fire service.

Eligible Participants

Full time, volunteer, industrial and military fire service personnel, including retired firefighters and staff employed full time by a Fire Department or Brigade. Some events also include spouses of eligible participants. Participants must be over 18 years of age.

Objectives

1)  To promote health and fitness
2)  To provide a forum for information exchange between Fire Services
3)  To foster comradeship amongst firefighters
4)  To encourage family participation

Events

The World Firefighters Games is similar to a mini-Olympics involving a variety of individual and team sporting events and including a number of events which are specific to the firefighters' emergency service role. The event is held biennially (every two years) in different countries throughout the world.

Beneficiaries

It is common practice for each host country to donate any profits from the staging of the Games to a worthwhile charity.

Since its inception in September 1989, World Firefighters Games WA Inc has contributed over $500,000 to the Princess Margaret Hospital for Children 'Burns Unit', derived from our fundraising activities and the 1994 World Firefighters Games WA Inc conducted in Perth, Western Australia and a further $90,000 to the children's charity, Telethon.