SAN DIEGO (March 20, 2023) – The California Police Athletic Federation (CPAF), a non-profit organization committed to promoting sports and physical fitness among first responders, is pleased to announce that volunteer and part time firefighters are now eligible to participate in the US Police & Fire Championships in San Diego. After much anticipation, the Board is excited to open the games up to this group of athletes and continue to become more inclusive to all members of the public safety profession and community.
“We are incredibly grateful and happy to announce that volunteer and part time firefighters, in good standing, will now be able to participate in the 56th season of the US Police & Fire Championships,” said Larry “LC” Collins, President of the California Police Athletic Federation. “USPFC continues to grow to serve a wide variety of public service agencies and we can’t wait to welcome the new athletes. This expansion of eligibility requirements for prospective athletes coincides with our recent rebranding which better reflects the role of both law enforcement and fire in our organization today.”
The new eligibility requirements states that volunteer or part time firefighters, in good standing, of an eligible agency with a minimum or two years’ service are welcome to participate. Retired volunteer or part time firefighters with 10 or more years of service are also invited to compete.
Since 1967, CPAF has hosted Olympic-style games to promote physical fitness and camaraderie among members of the police community. As time has passed, CPAF has grown to include a broader range of first responders including members from Law Enforcement, Fire, Corrections, and Emergency Service Agencies. Now, the organization is excited to welcome volunteer and part time firefighters to this lineup to take part in the 2023 championships.
This year’s US Police & Fire Championships will take place in San Diego and feature athletes competing in over 35 sports across 30 venues in the greater San Diego County, including bench press, dodgeball, pickleball, baseball, bowling, golf, tennis, water polo, CrossFit®, and more. 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.
The US Police & Fire Championships are one of four events that the California Police Athletic Federation presents in addition to the bi-annual World Police & Fire Games, the First Responders Relay and the brand-new North American Fall Classic, which will debut in November 2023. Registration for participation in the US Police & Fire Championships began mid-January. To sign up, click here. To learn more about the California Police Athletic Federation and its games, please visit www.cpaf.org
With their expanded eligibility requirements, CPAF plans to welcome a whole new group of athletes and first responders into the organization and continue the Olympic style games for the decades to come. To learn more about the California Police Athletic Federation and its games, please visit www.cpaf.org.
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About the California Police Athletic Federation
The California Police Athletic Federation (CPAF), a non-profit organization established in 1970, is the governing body for the United States Police & Fire Championships, the World Police & Fire Games, and the NEW First Responders Relay. The mission of CPAF is to promote sport and physical fitness among personnel representing law enforcement, fire, corrections, probation, border protection, immigration, and customs. For more information, please visit www.cpaf.org
