North Alabama leaders are reminding local first responders to register for the 2025 World Police & Fire Games.
The competition is set for June 27-July 6 in Birmingham. It will include more than 8,500 first responders from 70 countries competing in more than 60 events.
During a luncheon Tuesday at the Auburn University Research and Innovation Campus in Huntsville, State Rep. Rex Reynolds (R-Huntsville) and Madison County Commission Chairman Mac McCutcheon announced athlete registration for “The Games of Heroes” is open statewide. The luncheon, attended by multiple agencies, was part of a broader promotional tour to celebrate the opening of registration.
“I am thrilled to welcome the World Police & Fire Games to Alabama,” said Reynolds, a former director of public safety for the city of Huntsville. “Hosting these Games provides Alabama first responders a unique opportunity to challenge themselves and compete against the world’s best. I challenge every Alabama police and fire department, every Alabama sheriff’s office, volunteer fire district, our outstanding state law enforcement agencies as well as our federal law enforcement partners to support these Games, compete and take full advantage to better your skills, to showcase your abilities, to represent your community, your department, office or agency, and to join first responders from across the world and build lasting friendships.”
McCutcheon, a 25-year veteran of the Huntsville Police Department, touted the university’s connection to law enforcement and urged first responders across Alabama to compete in the Games.
“It is very fitting this luncheon was held at Auburn’s Research and Innovation Campus,” said McCutcheon. “Auburn University is world renowned for scientifically breeding and developing superior quality and highly trained canines used by law enforcement for various detection purposes.
“Wearing the badge and serving as a first responder is a fulfilling and rewarding career. I encourage the thousands of committed men and women of our first responder community to take full advantage of having our state host these Games.”
The inaugural World Police & Fire Games were held in San Jose, Calif., in 1985. They have been held every two years since and grown into one of the world’s most significant athletic events for first responders, drawing thousands. Other countries that have hosted the games include Australia, Canada, China, Northern Ireland, Spain and Sweden.
“This is a huge event for Alabama and celebrates the courage, resilience, honor, and unity of our first responders, and we eagerly look forward to welcoming these heroes from across the globe to Birmingham,” said DJ Mackovets, CEO of the 2025 World Police & Fire Games. “I am equally excited to share the excitement for the World Police & Fire Games through this statewide promotional tour and to invite communities throughout Alabama to honor and celebrate our first responder community while encouraging public safety personnel to register for the competition.”
Austen Shipley is a staff writer for Yellowhammer News. You can follow him on X @ShipleyAusten
