Western States and Police and Fire Games come to Ontario
When the Western States Police and Fire Games roll into town in a few months, the city's Convention Center will resemble an Olympic village more than an events center.
The games, scheduled June 4 through June 11, will feature more than 6,000 competitors and 65 sporting activities and events.
Athletes will come from all over the United States. Teams from New York, Texas and even Rhode Island have indicated they plan to compete.
"This is not just a sporting event, it's an experience to remember," said Amita Patel, executive director of the games and director of sales and marketing for the Ontario Convention and Visitors Bureau. "When you leave here, you are going to remember us for a long time."
A majority of the events will be at facilities in the Inland Empire, but some will be elsewhere in the Southland, such as a surfing competition in San Clemente.
Competitions will include the traditional -- basketball, boxing and archery -- to the unconventional -- rodeo as well as mixed martial arts.
All events are free and open to the public. A handful of events require tickets.
There is a fee to participate in the half marathon, which will be open to the public as well as law enforcement personnel.
The Firefighter Combat Challenge, which usually garners international television coverage, will be at the Convention Center. During the challenge, firefighters compete in an array of activities such climbing up a 60-foot tower while in full gear. The event is expected to attract several thousand spectators, Patel said.
"This is considered the toughest two minutes in sports," she said.
3 years in the making
The California Police Athletic Federation was established in 1967 to promote health and fitness in the state as well as serve as the oversight committee for the games, said Art Andres, executive director of the games and a battalion chief for the Ontario Fire Department.
Three years ago, a multi-agency partnership involving Ontario Firefighters Local 1430, the Ontario Police Officers Association as well as the Ontario Convention & Visitors Bureau assembled a bidding packet for the 2011 games.
Since being awarded the event, the Ontario partners have been working out every single detail with the help of a budget of at least $800,000.
Patel said they even started shadowing another group that hosted the 2010 games in Reno, Nev.
But the members of the Ontario partnership decided to be different in one aspect. Typically, when a city wins the bid, public safety personnel are removed from their work assignments to focus on coordinating the games. The Ontario directors decided against that.
Stepping into the ring
Ontario police Officer Christine Duarte, 33, will be participating in the games for the first time. It will also be her first time stepping into a boxing ring in a competitive setting.
The 5-foot-2-inch officer weighs 135 pounds and is currently slated to compete in the 147 pounds and under category. Duarte said she hopes to weigh in at 139 pounds by June so she can compete in the 139 pounds and under group.
"The chief approached me and asked me if I'd like to sign up for boxing and represent my department," she said. "I'm excited. For me, it's about representing Ontario."
Since receiving the invitation to compete more than six months ago, Duarte has changed her workout. Since January, she has started to do CrossFit, a strength and conditioning program that entails a new workout every day. She has also started to increase her boxing workouts from twice a week to four times a week.
Duarte has been boxing since 2002 and currently trains at the Millennia gym in Rancho Cucamonga.
Despite the fact her appearance at the games is fast approaching, Duarte said she is not nervous.
"I'm very competitive," she said.
Lots of help coordinating
As the event draws near, Andres said he is fielding several calls a day from participants and people interested in attending the games.
Andres, Patel as well as Ontario police Lt. Bryan Allen have worked together to coordinate the games. They are also relying on teams of volunteers.
One group of 65 volunteers has been tasked with overseeing just one of the sports.
There is another set of volunteers who will be working at the Convention Center or volunteering their time helping with the events.
Patel and Andres are relying on volunteers because the event is not meant to make money. Instead, they are trying to raise funds from registration fees and other avenues for the Rehabilitation Hospital at Casa Colina Medical Center and the American Red Cross.
Convention Center to be busy
Activities at the Convention Center, which will serve as host of the games, will also include a pancake breakfast by the Kiwanis Club, a street fair, celebrity dinner and silent auction as well as a health and wellness fair.
The games also will commemorate the 10-year anniversary of the terrorist attacks on Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. The Freedom's Flame Foundation will have a display at the center, and there will be display booths from the survivors of fallen officers, California Peace Officers Memorial Foundation.
"I want the community to know what these entities go through on a day-to-day basis," Patel said.
Allen said the competition allows departments that don't typically interact with each other with the opportunity to do so
The competition also gives firefighters in different departments the opportunity to interact with their colleagues outside of work.
"A community of police and firefighter athletes across the state will be attending, and we want to make sure the community is part of it," Patel said.
About this blog
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| Liset Márquez has covered the city of Ontario for the Inland Valley Daily Bulletin since 2008. She started the OntarioNow blog in August 2008. To contact Liset, leave a comment on this blog or send an e-mail to Liset Marquez |
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