Kev
12-01-2006, 03:01 PM
LIVERPOOL is going full blazes to host the best World Firefighter Games in Capital of Culture year.
The plans were revealed to 30 chief fire officers from across Britain last night to attract hundreds of UK fire-fighters to the games.
The week-long event, from August 25 2008, will be held in the new King's Dock arena and Merseyside sporting venues.
Organisers believe it could attract more than 5,000 competitors and supporters from across the world, as well as thousands of locals.
Peter Rushton, co-ordinating the games for Mersey-side Fire and Rescue Service, said: "The event is also to promote fire safety and there will be conferences running alongside the games. We're also going to be involving lots of community organisations and sports clubs, and we're working with John Moores."
Firefighters from up to 30 countries hope to take part, with Australia, New Zealand and Canada fielding consistently strong teams.
The games, which celebrate their 10th anniversary in 2008, are a mixture of events including a Herculean "toughest firefighter alive" contest at the Albert Dock, a firehouse cook-off among fireservice chefs and a contest for rescue dogs.
Mr Rushton said: "We're hoping to make the games the most successful ever."
Last time the games were held in the UK, in Sheffield two years ago, two British records were broken.
catherinejones@liverpoolecho.co.uk
The plans were revealed to 30 chief fire officers from across Britain last night to attract hundreds of UK fire-fighters to the games.
The week-long event, from August 25 2008, will be held in the new King's Dock arena and Merseyside sporting venues.
Organisers believe it could attract more than 5,000 competitors and supporters from across the world, as well as thousands of locals.
Peter Rushton, co-ordinating the games for Mersey-side Fire and Rescue Service, said: "The event is also to promote fire safety and there will be conferences running alongside the games. We're also going to be involving lots of community organisations and sports clubs, and we're working with John Moores."
Firefighters from up to 30 countries hope to take part, with Australia, New Zealand and Canada fielding consistently strong teams.
The games, which celebrate their 10th anniversary in 2008, are a mixture of events including a Herculean "toughest firefighter alive" contest at the Albert Dock, a firehouse cook-off among fireservice chefs and a contest for rescue dogs.
Mr Rushton said: "We're hoping to make the games the most successful ever."
Last time the games were held in the UK, in Sheffield two years ago, two British records were broken.
catherinejones@liverpoolecho.co.uk