From August 9th to August 18th 2019 the Chengdu 2019 World Police and Fire Games took place in Chengdu, China. Known as the Olympic-style games of law enforcement officers, professional firefighters and officers from corrections, probation, border protection, immigration and customs, the 2019 Games attracted over 8,000 competitors from over 70 countries across the world.
The 2019 WPFG was an overall huge success, hosted for the first time in Asia with what is considered one of its largest and most beautiful opening ceremonies to date. The Games aims to create an opportunity for competitors and their family to develop and build friendships, as well as the opportunity to facilitate cultural exchanges and cooperation between the host city and the world. To assist in this, one of the key components of the Games was the free spectator entry and its volunteer based staff event consisting of thousands of civilians who volunteered their time and effort to assist in the conducting of the Games.
New to this year's event was the introduction of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Gi and No Gi competition coordinated by the SJJIF president Mr. Joao Silva, ASJJF president Mr. Edison Kagohara and SJJCF president Wang Kay. The event consisted of 296 fire fighter and law enforcement competitors representing 25 countries.
The Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Gi and No Gi event, conducted at the Century City International Exhibition Centre, was considered a huge success by WPFG Director Bob Powles. Led by SJJIF officials, the event began on August 10th with the official staff and referee training, followed on August 11th with the official weigh-in and rules meeting. The competition, consisting of both Gi and No Gi matches, was held up to the semifinals on Monday August 12th and followed on Tuesday August 13th with the finals and award ceremony.
The SJJIF president believes that being part of the Games was both, very important and rewarding as it further promotes the SJJIF mission of inclusion through BJJ and BJJ for All. The WPFG gives all law enforcement officers and firefighters the opportunity to compete in BJJ on such a widely respected and global platform. In addition, the SJJIF president believes that the inclusion of BJJ in the WPFG promotes more jobs for the BJJ community as BJJ professors will now have the opening to not only teach self defense, police arrest control, and specific training components, but also BJJ competition style training in both Gi and No GI to law enforcement officers, professional firefighters and officers from corrections, probation, border protection, immigration and customs.
With Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu's huge sucess at the 2019 WPFG it has been confirmed that BJJ will be included in the 2021 WPFG in Rotterdam, England and 2023 WPFG in Winnipeg, Canada. SJJIF and its officials look forward to being part of future events of the WPFG, with BJJ practitioners having the opportunity to repreesnt their country, department, and of course BJJ in this great event.