If you didn’t attend the Georgia Police and Fire Games last week, you missed a great opportunity to watch some skilled athletes and to support some of this state’s bravest and finest public servants.
More than 500 law enforcement officers from across Georgia came to Dalton to compete in 16 events ranging from bass fishing to golf to a 5K run to aptly named “toughest” cop and firefighter contests. And several local law enforcement officers and firefighters took their share of medals.
Those officers and firefighters brought with them about 200 to 225 family members, according to the Dalton Area Convention and Visitors Bureau (CVB). And while some of the competitors just came up for the event they took part in and left afterwards, many stayed in Dalton hotels and motels, ate in local restaurants and maybe even shopped in local stores.
All told, the CVB estimates the Games pumped about $225,000 to $250,000 into the local economy, but those numbers could go up when the final attendance figures are in. That’s the sort of economic boost Dalton needs.
Dalton will host the games again next year, and CVB Executive Director Brett Huske says he expects the 2013 games will be even bigger.
“People have had a chance now to see our facilities and see how we perform. We had very, very good feedback from everybody we came in contact with. That word will spread into communities across the state. We have the opportunity next year to possibly double those numbers,” Huske said. “We were told by James Perry, who is the executive director of the Games, that the first year is always the toughest.”
The CVB, the Dalton Parks and Recreation Department, local law enforcement agencies and fire departments, and dozens of volunteers from many other organizations all worked hard to make the Games a success. And they are already hard at work planning to make next year’s Games an even bigger success. The community owes them all a big thanks.
Editorials
June 28, 2012
Georgia Police and Fire Games made big impact
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We remain optimistic that Obamacare can and will be repealed. While the 2012 election results and the Supreme Court decision might seem to suggest otherwise, it’s important to remember that the law has just begun to take effect. In fact, Obamacare won’t be in full force until 2014.
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