Nigeria Police Force Debuts In The Biennial World Police And Fire Games (WPFG), ‘’Belfast 2013’’, In Northern Ireland.
- Represented By A Contingent Of Twenty-Eight (28) Athletes And Six (6) Officials.
- IG Charges Contingent To Be Good Ambassadors.
The Nigeria Police Force will make its first appearance in the Biennial World Police and Fire Games in the 2013 edition of the Games, being hosted in Belfast, Northern Ireland. In statement signed by Mr. Frank Mbah Deputy Force PRO said; “A 34-man contingent of the Force, made up of twenty-eight (28) athletes and six (6) officials, led by the Force Planning Committee Chairman, CP Abimbola Macaulay, departed the Murtala Mohammed International Air Port, Lagos, yesterday, 30th July, 2013, for Belfast, Northern Ireland. The Nigeria Police contingent will arrive Belfast today, 31st July, 2013 and participate in the tournament that will commence on 1st to 10th August, 2013.”
According to Police, The biennial World Police and Fire Games is an athletic competition open to Police agencies throughout the world. Athletes from Seventy (70) countries are expected at the 2013 Belfast Games, to compete in Sixty-six (66) sporting events, including athletics, Football, Basketball, Volleyball, Tennis, Marshall arts like wrestling, Judo, Taekwondo. The Nigeria Police contingent will feature in eight (8) events, namely — Athletics, Badminton, Boxing, Cycling, Golf, Judo, Table-Tennis and Taekwondo.
Meanwhile, in his goodwill message to the contingent, the Inspector-General of Police, IGP MD Abubakar, CFR, NPM, mni, charged them to be good ambassadors of not just the Nigeria Police, but the entire nation. He enjoined them to conduct themselves creditably throughout their stay in Belfast, and further warned them to distance themselves from drugs, as any athlete cut doping will be dealt with accordingly.
The IGP in his address reminded the contingent that Nigeria Police athletes are not strangers to international sporting events, as some of them have represented Nigeria and made the country proud in similar Games like the Common wealth Games, the All Africa Games, and even the Olympics. He challenged them to improve on the record of their predecessors by winning more laurels. The IGP assured the athletes of a befitting welfare package during the Games, adding that impressive rewards would await those who would win medals for the Force and the country.
The contingent is expected back in the country on 14th August, 2013.
