US Police & Fire Championships

All photos courtesy of the US Police & Fire Championships

cpaf.org/uspfc

The 58th Annual US Police & Fire Championships will take place this summer around the Marriott Mission Valley San Diego. Athletes will compete in 38 sports in 28 venues in the greater San Diego County including golf, archery, baseball, surfing, bowling, dodgeball, tennis, water polo, CrossFit® and more.

The California Police Athletic Federation (CPAF), the event organizer, has noted almost all events will take place Saturday, May 31 through Saturday, June 7. These games provide a welcome connection between public safety personnel from varied backgrounds and cultures and offer the opportunity to develop camaraderie and celebrate the human spirit at its very best.

Sports Destination Management: What is new this year with the event?

James King: We are back in the area of Mission Valley – we love that location and we think our athletes will as well. Mission Valley is convenient to restaurants, the beach and downtown, so there’s a lot to offer. If people are bringing their families, they can visit Old Town San Diego too.

SDM: What makes the event unique?

King: There are two fairly significant components: one is the sports component and the other is the tourism component. When we can host a top-notch sports event and people want to bring their families along, that makes the experience 100 times better.

Another part of our event that we are very proud of is the fact that it is so social. Our folks are coming from public safety, and the connections and the friendships that develop are very, very strong. Of course, the competitive spirit is alive and well between police and fire and that makes it even more fun.

SDM: You have regular sports, like archery, bowling and powerlifting but you also have firefighter and police competitions.

King: Yes, those types of events, like the Firefighter Challenge, Ultimate Firefighter, Police Service Dog Events, and Police Pistol, are staples at the World Police and Fire Games, and they serve as incredible showcases of the skills and dedication unique to police and firefighters. While our Championships currently offer a diverse array of competitions for first responders, we’re always looking at ways to expand and enhance our event lineup. Adding more industry-specific challenges like these is something we’re excited to explore in the future. 

SDM: You get a lot of spectators there too; that must be an inspirational event, particularly for kids.

King: Yes; people love to see those competitions and it’s great for them to see first responders having fun and really competing.

SDM: How many venues will you be using?

King: A total of 28 for 38 sports; we’re really proud of the quality of those venues as well. We take venue selection very seriously.

SDM: And this year, the World Police and Fire Games will be in the U.S.

King: Yes, in Birmingham, Alabama from June 27 to July 6. It’s a much larger event because you have competitors coming in from all over the world; we estimate there will be 8,000-10,000 people competing in 68 sports at 39 different venues. At the national level, you’ll see 2,800 to 3,200 competitors.

SDM: Will it be held in America for more than one year running?

King: The World Police and Fire Games is a truly global event, bringing competitors and spectators together in a new country every two years. In 2027, the Games will take us to Perth, Australia, from March 12-21. As for 2029, the host city will be revealed during the 2025 Games in Birmingham, adding to the excitement and anticipation of this extraordinary event.   

SDM: When you have competitions at the national level, do you see more men than women?

King: Traditionally, police and fire personnel have been predominantly male but as of late, those numbers for females have increased. We may not see 50/50 enrollment at our Games but these days, there are enough women to field full teams in soccer, softball, basketball and other sports. It’s great to see and it adds a different dynamic but the competition is still strong. The women fight and scrap and give it right back to the guys.

SDM: What is the economic impact like for the US Police & Fire Championships?

King: In 2024, we had almost 11,400 room nights and approximately $2.3 million in room nights alone. I don’t know what the figure was for the whole event; certainly, it would have been in the millions.

SDM: Will you stay in California?

King: Being organized by the California Police Athletic Federation and having our offices in this area has made it convenient but we have also traveled to Boise, Phoenix, Reno and some other cities. We’re thinking of maybe venturing out of San Diego again in the future.