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Quantico to host rifle match for Fairfax 2015 World Police and Fire Games

30 Mar 2015 | Eve A. Baker Marine Corps Base Quantico

June is set to be a busy month aboard Marine Corps Base Quantico in terms of athletic competition.

Not only is the base hosting the Department of Defense’s Warrior Games 2015, but it is also hosting one event for the Fairfax 2015 World Police and Fire Games, the large-bore rifle match.

The WPFG began in 1985 in California and are held every two years at different venues around the world. The 2013 WPFG were held in Belfast, Ireland, and the 2017 games are scheduled to be held in Montreal, Canada. This year’s event is based in Fairfax, with 70 percent of the events to be held in Fairfax County, according to Roseann Kuryla, manager of Volunteer Services for the Games.

Hosting the WPFG is a monumental undertaking for any locale, given that the 10-day event encompasses more than 12,000 athletes from 70 countries participating in 62 events. The events will be held at 53 different venues.

Chief Warrant Officer 4 Martin Dankanich, range officer for Weapons Training Battalion, estimates that between 100 and 300 competitors will participate in the rifle match at MCBQ.

The events of the WPFG fall into three categories, Kuryla said. There are traditional Olympic sports, such as wrestling, archery, basketball, swimming and shooting; job-specific events, such as K-9 handling and an “ultimate firefighter” competition; and general-interest events, such as tug of war and wrist wrestling.

More than 4,000 volunteers are needed to make the WPFG happen, said Kuryla. Volunteers are needed for a wide variety of tasks, including greeting and checking in athletes, serving as medical staff, refereeing various events, setting up and taking down facilities and equipment, and serving food. Essentially there are only two requirements for volunteers, according to Kuryla: they need to be at least 18 by July 6, and they need to be able to commit to at least four work shifts of four to six hours each.

Visit http://fairfax2015.com for information about the event and to register as a volunteer.

— Writer: ebaker@quanticosentryonline.com




Marine Corps Base Quantico