4 September 2019, all the public safety professionals who took part in the World Police & Fire Games 2019 (WPFG) on behalf of the Netherlands were honored at Rotterdam City Hall. The WPFG in Chengdu, China were a great success for the Dutch team. The Netherlands won no fewer than 17 gold, 15 silver and 16 bronze medals.
In his speech this afternoon, Mayor Aboutaleb said: “With the World Police & Fire Games 2021, we would like to give all public safety workers a stage, and collectively thank them for the work they do for our society each and every day. They deserve it.”
Rotterdam: next host city
During the ceremony, Arjen Littooij, General Manager Rotterdam-Rijnmond Safety Region and member of the Board of WPFG Rotterdam 2021, presented the WPFG flag to Sven de Langen, the city alderman responsible for Public Health, Healthcare, the Elderly & Sport. Littooij received the official flag in August from the president of the WPFG during the closing ceremony of the event in China. The flag was stored in the vault of the City Hall this afternoon and will be hoisted in Rotterdam during the opening of the World Police & Fire Games in 2021.
The WPFG 2021 start on 30 July 2021 in Rotterdam. That year, for the first time in history, the Netherlands will welcome more than 10,000 public safety workers and 20,000 supporters from around the world for the 19th edition of the World Police & Fire Games.
Jeroen Kranendonk, competitor and WPFG 2019 medalist had this to say: “Competing at the WPFG and winning a medal is an experience I will never forget.
The fact that the WPFG will be organized in ‘my’ city of Rotterdam in 2021 makes me very proud. It’s great that public safety professionals from all over the world will meet each other again in Rotterdam at this sporting occasion and have the chance to share their experiences. I’m sure the city of Rotterdam will make it a wonderful celebration of sport.”