Friday, July 6, 2001 | 4:38 a.m.
Police and fire officials from around the world will take over Las Vegas next month as they compete for medals in various fitness events.
The 26th annual Nevada Police & Fire Games, sponsored by the Nevada Police Athletic Federation, will be held Aug. 21-26. Participants will compete for gold, silver and bronze medals.
Battalion Chief Don Parker of Las Vegas Fire and Rescue will be one of the many participants in the games.
"I think they are a great morale builder," Parker said. "It is a way for police officers and firefighters to not only compete against each other but with each other. And the firefighters can say they beat up the police officers."
The games once were open only to police officers but was expanded last year to include firefighters. Parker competed in and helped run the tennis competition last year and plans to do so again this year. He said he enjoys the opportunity to meet people from around the country.
Federation officials said setting the competition in such an enticing city pulls participants and their families from all over the United States, Germany and Australia. The games are such a big event, they will be taking over many golf courses and practically every softball field in the valley that week.
"Last year we had around 2,600 participants and each one of those brought families and friends," Peggy Barese of the Nevada Police Athletic Federation said. "Not only do they enjoy the competition, but Las Vegas is Las Vegas and they really like to come here."
With this many people contending, the federation has been planning for months where the events will take place. It will be holding the track and field events at Palo Verde High School and will be utilizing UNLV's basketball court, tennis court and swimming pool. The bowling and poker competitions will be at the Gold Coast, the host hotel for the games for many years.
"We support the participants very much," Susan Lombardi, director of sales at the Gold Coast, said. "I just love them. They are wonderful to work with and they bring us good business."
Not only does the federation have to find locations for the events, it also need funds to rent the space.
"We would really like to see the city get behind us and donate facilities, but unfortunately they cannot do that," Barese said.
Because the federation is a nonprofit organization and the city does not donate facilities, the funding of the games comes from donations and participant entry fees.
Every competitor pays a $45 entry fee that goes toward the use of land to hold the events on. Among private donors for the games was Builder's Capital Inc.
"This is a wonderful way for us to give back to the community and show our support of the men and women who protect and serve us," Steve Brockman, president of Builder's Capital, said. "It is important these people get recognized every once and awhile."
Barese said it is people like Brockman who make the games possible every year and that the federation is extremely grateful for their support.
"I think the law enforcement officers and firefighters need this," Barese said. "It builds comraderie. It builds friendships. It is such a negative world out there, and this is one of the few positive things they can come out and enjoy."
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