First Responder Games Coming to Palm Beach

For nearly two weeks in August, Palm Beach County will become an assembly for our nation’s heroes.  Police, firefighters, military, federal agents, and emergency medical personnel will gather to play sports and compete in the First Responder Games.  The Palm Beach County Sports Commission is partnering with the United States Firefighter Games to bring this event to Palm Beach County for the first time.  

The First Responder Games, scheduled for August 6-17, is a biennial Olympic-style competition that will take place at various sports venues located throughout Palm Beach County.  This multi-sport event will attract over 3,000 first responders from across the nation competing in more than 30 different sports, including soccer, flag football, softball, golf, basketball, volleyball, ice hockey, fishing, racquetball, tennis, swimming, volleyball, bowling, billiards, and cycling.

Multiple venues throughout Palm Beach County will be utilized to accommodate the variety of sporting events.   Seminole Palms Park, Royal Palm Beach Commons Park, Okeeheelee Park, Northwood University, Palm Beach Atlantic University, Cardinal Newman High School, Palm Beach Skate Zone, Green Acres Bowl, and several golf courses will serve as anchor facilities.  The Hilton Palm Beach Airport is the host hotel and will also serve as a venue to several indoor sports.

The First Responder Games and its influx of visitors will create a major tourism and economic impact for Palm Beach County.  The event is expected to generate over 2,000 hotel room nights and $1.5 million in direct visitor spending.   In April, Palm Beach County was home to the Florida Firefighter Games.  This two-week event attracted over 2,000 firefighter from across the state, creating 1,500 hotel room nights and over $1 million of economic impact.  

“The Florida Firefighter Games will be a very special occasion for Palm Beach County.   While this multi-sports festival will attract a surge of new visitors, hotel room nights, and new revenues for our destination, we also have the privilege of hosting an event to celebrate some of our finest heroes and first responders who dedicate their lives to public service”, said Guy Quattlebaum, President of the Palm Beach County Sports Commission.  

For more information on the First Responder Games, viits www.palmbeachsports.com