BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (WIAT) -- The World Police and Fire Games have been around since 1985. In 2025, the athletes will be coming to Alabama for the first time.
Eyes across the globe will be set on Birmingham next summer as the WPFG come to the city. The Magic City is no stranger to large-scale sporting events, hosting the National Senior Games in 2017, the World Games in 2022, MLB at Rickwood Field in 2024 and scheduled to have the National Senior Games back again in 2029.
The WPFG will bring around 8,500 first responders representing over 70 countries to the Magic City. State Rep. Allen Treadaway (R-Morris) said it is a proud moment and shows what can happen when people work together.
"When folks start to look here and they see hey, the World Games was very successful," Treadaway said. "Now, the World Police and Fire Games are coming, so that sends a message out that we’re open for business and that might not have been the case in the past with all the negativity that goes on in politics or the image that folks may have had about the state of Alabama. This gives them an opportunity to see that we can put on world-type events.”
Birmingham Mayor Randall Woodfin said the WPFG will give local first responders an international stage to showcase their commitment to the community and professionalism.
"We are literally talking about first responders not just from this city, not just from this county, not just from the state, not just from the southeast, not just from America but from around our globe, from 70-plus countries. This is a big deal," Woodfin said. "The city of Birmingham is honored to host, and we’re excited to support, invest in, promote, engage, as well as do everything necessary to continue to support our first responders.”
Local first responders competing next summer said they’re excited to showcase their departments and give people a glimpse into some of what they do.
"This challenge pretty much correlates to what you see what we do out on the course or what we do out in the field, especially on the fire ground pretty much,” Vestavia Hills firefighter Dextor Harris said.
"It’s been a really good just way of fellowshipping for us over the last couple of years -- kind of meet and get to know a lot of people that are just like-minded like us,” Vestavia Hills firefighter Ana Ruzevic said.
Harris and Ruzevic are ready to represent locally and show people not only what Alabama is made of but firefighters in general.
"My motto is leave people better than you found them, so firefighting kind of goes well with that,” Ruzevic said.
“I wanted to make a difference," Harris said. "I know it’s very dangerous, and it means putting your life on the line, but I’m willing to put my life on the line for a complete stranger.”
Local athletes aren’t the only ones excited for the WPFG to be in Birmingham. Birmingham City Councilor Crystal Smitherman went to the 2023 WPFG in Canada. She said now is the time for the Magic City to show the world what it’s all about.
"Birmingham for decades has always tried to find our niche," Smitherman said. "We’ve chased after being an Atlanta, a Charlotte, a Houston, but Birmingham is a sports town.”
Over 60 sports will be featured at the WPFG next summer from events like cornhole, pickleball and axe throwing to basketball, hockey and volleyball to some events specifically showcasing the skillsets of police officers and firefighters. Events in the WPFG will be played in many venues around Birmingham to include the Birmingham CrossPlex, Alabama Theatre, Boutwell Auditorium and BJCC.
But events will also be held around Jefferson County in cities like Hoover and Pelham. Jefferson County Commissioner Mike Bolin said 2025 will be the year Jefferson County gets to be a community hub for competition and camaraderie.
"The World Police and Fire Games is not just a celebration of athleticism but a recognition of the bravery, dedication and sacrifice that these men and women make every day to make our community safe," Bolin said. "This will be an incredible opportunity for our county to showcase its vibrant culture, and it has one, welcoming spirit that’s in everyone’s hearts and world-class facilities.”
The organizing of the 2025 games has been a long time coming, with Birmingham being awarded the bid to host back in 2020.
"They’ve got a good history of producing multi-sport events, the National Senior Games in 2017, obviously the World Games," said DJ Mackovets, CEO of the Birmingham Host Committee. "We’ve got the venues, we’ve got the hotels, we’ve got the know-how, and we’ve got the combination of the public and private partnerships on the funding side.”
The WPFG will be in town from June 27 to July 6 and is a completely free event for all people to attend.