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 Aug. 6-17, is a biennial Olympic-style competition that will take place at sports venues throughout Palm Beach County.
The multi-sport event will attract more than 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, 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, Greenacres Bowl and several golf courses will serve as anchor facilities.
The Hilton Palm Beach Airport is serving as the host hotel and will also serve as a venue for 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 more than 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 more than 2,000 firefighters from across the state, creating 1,500 hotel room nights and more than $1 million of economic impact.
“The Florida Firefighter Games will be a very special occasion for Palm Beach County,” said Guy Quattlebaum, president of the Palm Beach County Sports Commission. “While this multi-sport 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.”
For more information about the First Responder Games, visit www.palmbeachsports.com.
