Meet Karen and her team from Australia!

I've been part of the South Australia Police for over 30 years and my job has taken me across the northern areas of Adelaide, including Holden Hill, Port Adelaide, Elizabeth and Gawler.

I wouldn't really describe myself as an athlete, I just like to get involved in a variety of sports that give the best social atmosphere (and that's exactly what I think the World Police and Fire Games are ALL about!!).

So, my latest social sport is darts and I have put together a team especially for the Belfast Games - the 'Darts Tarts'! This will be the first time I have competed in darts - in fact, this is a new sport to all of us, but we believe we will put up a good fight at the Games – and no doubt provide lots of laughs!

 

I am really excited about the opportunity for services personnel from all over the world to get together and share a ‘super friendly’ atmosphere through sport. The World Police and Fire Games is the event where this can happen. My first experience of this was in Adelaide in 2007 and that's when I decided to compete in future Games. My favourite part of every Games is the Opening Ceremony and being part of the parade with all the international competitors.

I have managed to rally together some non-police friends, Di and Gary from New South Wales and Jo from Canberra, along with Dianna, Lesely-Ann and Geraldine to follow us to Belfast as a cheer squad for all the competitors. Together, these six, now known as the 'Darts Tartlets', will cheer on any South Australian (or even Australian) in any event!

After the Games, I have a must-do tourist list which includes the Giant's Causeway and the Black Taxi tour in Belfast. My plan is then to visit the Jameson Distillery in Dublin before crossing the Irish Sea to England to do a bit of travelling with the Tartlets.
See you all in August - come and cheer Jan, Allan and me on at the Darts event! I'll see you for a pint of the black stuff afterwards!

Have you taken up a new sport? Do have a great team like Karen's? Send us an e-mail and we can share your story with other athletes on our Blog!

100 days to go until the opening ceremony

Today there are 100 days to go until the opening ceremony of the 2013 World Police & Fire Games at the King's Hall in Belfast! Over the next hundred days, we'll be profiling lots of fantastic competitors from around the world who will be coming to Belfast for the Games. We'll also be sharing stories from our Volunteers and the 2013 Team. 

Below is the first contribution from Jim Currell of the Victoria Police. If you would like to contribute to the blog, please contact Karen in the 2013 WPFG team.

My name is Jim Currell and I am a sergeant with Victoria Police in Melbourne, Australia. I am originally from Northern Ireland - I was born in Bangor and left with my family for Australia at the age of 14 months. This will be my first time returning to Northern Ireland since I emigrated and I am very excited about my trip home after over fifty years!

I have competed in the World Police and Fire Games before – I took part in the 4 x 400 metre event in my home town of Melbourne in 1995. This year, I am taking part in the Track and Field 200 & 400 metre events. I have competed in several Australia and New Zealand Police Games where I won gold and set an ANZPG record for the 400 metres which was surpassed a few years later. I am passionate about sport and am a qualified Track & Field coach where I have been involved with the National Junior Development Program (up to under 20 level).

Not only am I looking forward to my visit home and competing in the Games, but I am also thrilled to celebrating my 30th wedding anniversary with my wife on 6 August (right in the middle of the Track and Field events!). Hopefully I can bring some Aussie sunshine with me to share with everyone! 

Click here for more information about Track and Field events.