First Responder Games Starting This Week in Palm Beach County

For nearly two weeks in June, Palm Beach County will become an assembly for our nation’s heroes and first responders. 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 First Responder Sports to bring this event to Palm Beach County for the second time in four years.   

The First Responder Games, scheduled for June 5-17, is an Olympic-style competition that will take place at various sports venues located throughout Palm Beach County.  This multi-sport event will attract over 2,000 first responders from across the nation competing in more than 30 different sports, including soccer, flag football, softball, golf, basketball, ice hockey, fishing, archery, tennis, swimming, volleyball, bowling, billiards, darts, racquetball and cycling.

Multiple venues throughout Palm Beach County will be utilized to accommodate the variety of sporting events, including but not limited to Seminole Palms Park, John Prince Park, Okeeheelee Park, Buttonwood Park, Palm Beach Skate Zone, Forest Hills High School, Breakers West Country Club, PGA National, Madison Green Country Club and Green Acres Bowl.  The Hilton Palm Beach Airport is the host hotel and will serve as a venue to several indoor sports.

The First Responder Games and the influx of visitors will create a major tourism and economic impact for Palm Beach County.  The event is expected to generate a significant rise in hotel room nights and visitor spending.   The Palm Beach County Sports Commission hosted the Florida Firefighter Games and the First Responder Games during April and August of 2014, respectively.  Combined, these events created over $1.5 million of economic impact while creating more than 2,000 hotel room nights for Palm Beach County’s hospitality industry.   

“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 our finest heroes and first responders who dedicate their lives to public service”, said George Linley, Executive Director of the Palm Beach County Sports Commission. 

For more information on the First Responder Games, visit www.firstrespondergames.com

About the Palm Beach County Sports Commission:The Palm Beach County Sports Commission is a private, not-for-profit organization contracted by Palm Beach County to promote and market the County as a sports and sports tourism destination. The Commission brings sporting events and activities to the County, enhances economic impact, stimulates bed tax revenues (primarily in the off-season), and maximizes utilization of County facilities. The Commission offers a full range of event service support, corporate partnerships, sponsorships and a local membership program that support its goals. Local, regional, national and international marketing efforts are ongoing by the Commission with sports organizations and event owners. The Commission also produces sports-related programs for the residents of Palm Beach County including the annual Lou Groza Award program, the Palm Beach County Sports Hall of Fame and the Kids Fitness Festival of the Palm Beaches. For more information on the Palm Beach County Sports Commission, go to www.palmbeachsports.com.