On target for a spectacular sporting extravaganza

Sports Minister Nelson McCausland and PSNI Assistant Chief Constable Duncan McCausland OBE today visited Carnview Shooting Club, one of the potential venues for the 2013 World Police and Fire Games.

Located outside Ballymena, the club was established by farmer, and shooting enthusiast, James McKeown in 1996 and since then has grown to become one of the leading shooting facilities in Northern Ireland. The club provides a range of shooting disciplines including National Skeet, Olympic Skeet, Down the Line, Automatic Ball Trap, Compac Sporting and Olympic Trench.

The Games will be held from Thursday 1 August to Saturday 10 August 2013 at various venues across Northern Ireland. It is expected to attract up to 10,000 competitors, accompanied by some 15,000 family and friends, from all over the world and will be the biggest sporting event ever hosted in Northern Ireland. This extravaganza will provide these police officers, firefighters, customs and prison officers an opportunity to showcase their athletic excellence in over 65 events. As well as the sporting benefits, the Games will provide a boost to tourism, the economy and promote the reputation of law officers at home and abroad.

Speaking after a tour of Carnview Shooting Club Minister McCausland said: “The World Police and Fire Games is a huge and highly significant event which will demonstrate on a world stage how Northern Ireland is moving forward. It will showcase Northern Ireland as a venue for major sporting occasions, as a tourist destination, as a place to do business and as a place which can extend a warm welcome to the thousands of competitors and their families, who are set to converge here in the summer of 2013.”

ACC McCausland added: “To win the bid to host the 2013 World Police and Fire Games was a wonderful achievement for Northern Ireland. We are now progressing with sourcing venues that are suitable for all sporting events. We should not underestimate the significance of this event to Northern Ireland. The Games will allow us to showcase the professionalism of our police, fire, customs and prison officers and their athletic ability."

Other potential venues already visited by the Minister for use in the Games include; Belfast’s Custom House Square, the Mary Peters Track, Lisnagarvey Hockey Club and the Northern Ireland Civil Service Sports Association in Stormont.

Notes to editors:

1. The 2013 World Police and Fire Games will be held from Thursday 1 August to Saturday 10 August 2013.
2. The World Police and Fire Games is a biennial event, which is organised for all “sworn law enforcement officers”. This includes, Police, Fire, Customs, Prison Service and some smaller enforcement agencies such as coastguard services and drug enforcement agencies.
3. The Games last for 10 days and include a wide range of individual and team sports such as athletics, football, swimming, rugby, field and ice hockey, shooting, rowing, tennis, golf, 10 pin and lawn bowls, Gaelic games and cycling.
4. Number of competitors range from 7,000-10,000 and come from all over the world with a large influx from North and South America, Australia, New Zealand and mainland Europe.
5. The World Police and Fire Games website www.2013wpfg.com
6. Carnview farms Clay Target Shooting Club was setup by farmer and shooting enthusiast James McKeown in 1996 with just one layout accommodating the discipline of National Skeet.
7. Carnview is designed to be disabled friendly providing wheelchair users ease of access. The improved facilities provide an additional asset to Clay Pigeon shooting and are regarded as being among the best available for this particular sport.
8. Media enquiries should be addressed to the Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure Press Office. Tel (028)9051 5047 or email DCAL Press Office. Out of office hours please contact the Duty Press Officer via pager number 07699 715440 and your call will be returned.