The competitions include traditional olympic athletic events like track and field, basketball, and swimming as well as non-traditional events that showcase skills unique to law enforcement and firefighting, such as orienteering, a cross country race where participants use a map and compass to navigate between checkpoints; muster, a competition where teams use antique equipment and old-fashioned firefighting techniques and the "toughest competitor alive."

An emotional ceremony inaugurated the games, which drew more than 12,000 contestants representing 60 countries. King Juan Carlos of Spain presided over the opening ceremony at the Olympic Stadium in the Montjuic complex, where an officer rappelled from a helicopter and lit the eternal flame of the olympic torch.

The World Games were organized in 1985 to showcase the skills and dedication that police and firefighters require to do their often dangerous work. The first competition was held in San Jose, Calif., and is held every other year, usually in the United States. Barcelona is the second European city after Stockholm to host the games.

Individual competitors
The olympic area of Montjuic is filled with excitement-snatches of different languages drift through the air as competitors in colorful gear wish each other good luck or give last-minute instructions. Runners, cyclists, archers, and other athletes are competing amidst the castles, pavilions, gardens, and in the sports facilities that comprise the Montjuic complex.

In this picturesque setting, Diana L. Beeson, CBP senior field analytical specialist, grabbed the bronze medal in the 10K cross-country event, running a difficult course around a historic castle. She also won another bronze in the 5000-meter run. No novice to the World Games, Beeson, a former inspector, set four world records for her age group and won five gold medals at the 2000 games held in Indianapolis, Ind.

Robert Clement, a senior CBP inspector working outbound inspections at JFK International Airport and an Explorer post advisor, has been competing in the games since 1987. This year he took the bronze medal in the "toughest competitor alive" competition, which consists of eight events all performed on the same day: a 5K run, shot put, 100-meter sprint, 100-meter swim, 20-foot rope climb in a seated position, bench press, pull-ups, and an obstacle course. He won another bronze in the biathlon, where competitors run a mile and fire 12 rounds. Each contestant must complete this feat three times. And he won the silver medal in the pentathlon, which consists of pistol shooting; a 300-meter swim, shot put, long jump, and a 3000-meter cross country run.

John Zeigler, a senior CBP inspector in Atlanta, competed in a dozen different events both individually and as part of USA teams made up of competitors from various law enforcement agencies. Zeigler, who has been a competitive swimmer since college, won gold medals in the two-mile open water swim and in the 100-meter butterfly; silver for the individual 200-meter medley and the 100-meter backstroke and bronze for the 100-meter breaststroke, 100- meter freestyle, and 400-meter freestyle. As part of the USA 2 team he took silver in the 200-meter medley relay and in the 200-meter freestyle relay.

The dream team
The Sans train station in Barcelona teems with people buying tickets, boarding trains, and catching a morning "cortado"-espresso with a shot of hot milk. Competitors in the pistol competitions, waiting in line for train information, chat excitedly about the upcoming events. A thirty-minute ride later, competitors and spectators alike stream out of the trains and walk to the shooting ranges of the Catalan Police Academy in Mollet. Sharing both the heat and the wait in the registration line are members of the Border Patrol's National Pistol Team.

This team won 29 medals-19 gold, 5 silver, and 5 bronze. This team represents the cream of the crop in firearm competitions and has garnered the World Police and Fire Games Championship for the last 3 competitions.

To join this dream team, prospective members must submit their top five scores in previous shooting competitions. Those with the top ten scores get a place on the travel team, and the next six serve as alternates. Team members must hone their skills independently before they compete as a team. The team competes annually in five state and national matches, including the National Police Shooting Championship that was held September 22-25 in Jackson, Miss. Clay Tippit, Border Patrol pilot, and the men's 2002 national pistol champion and world record-holder, and Gina Hernandez, Border Patrol Firearms Training Operations Supervisor, and the 2002 national women's pistol champion, are members of this elite team.

The four events included in the pistol competition-the 1500, the distinguished semi-automatic, distinguished revolver, and the team match-drew 335 competitors. The 1500 consists of a series of timed firing opportunities. It's so named because 150 rounds are fired, 10 possible points for each round, from distances of 7, 15, 25, and 50 yards, making 1500 a perfect score. Firing is done in prescribed positions: left-handed wiyh a barricade, right-handed with a barricade, kneeling, prone, sitting, and standing. At the end of each round, competitors move to their targets to see how they did. It is impressive to see so many of the competitor's targets unscathed except for the bullet holes all grouped in the bulls-eye.

It's not just about the medals
It's not about winning medals-receiving recognition for top performance in the games is priceless to individual competitors. "The games foster camaraderie among the participants, whether they're from another law enforcement agency or another country. Mutual respect is gained during competition and a bond is forged through the shared experience," says Clay Tippit. a three-time national pistol champion.

Competitors cheer each other on and take pride in each other's achievements. A freelance correspondent covering the games interviews the captain of the German pistol team. In perfect English, he answers questions about his team and then heaps unsolicited praise on one of his chief competitors, the Border Patrol team. Outbound Inspector Robert Clement speaks of a brotherhood among those who compete. With obvious warmth, he describes the pride and joy shown by two small children as they watch theie grandfather, a firefighter from Madrid, narrowly beat him in the five-event pentathlon.

Photo Credit: Harry Ruffel

Back of the Police and Firefighter Games gold medal.

The games serve an important public relations role, providing positive exposure for CBP and other participants, and fostering the solidarity vital to successful public-safety teamwork. But perhaps a teenage spectator with no direct ties to law enforcement sums it up best. "I knew law ennorcement officers and firefighters had physical standards, but I didn't know they were this good. I feel a lot safer knowing they are protecting me."

MEDAL WINNERS IN BARCELONA GOLD Individual 1500 Pistol Competition Danny Conway Supervisory Border Patrol Agent, Glynco, Ga. Gina Hernandez, Border Patrol Firearms Training Operations Supervisor, Glynco Ga. Robert Vadasz, Senior Border Patrol Agent, Boulevard, Calif. Steven Vines, Border Patrol Field Operations Supervisor, Demming, N. Mex. Distinguished Revolver Gina Hernandez, Border Patrol Firearms Training Operations Supervisor, Glynco Ga. Steven Vines, Border Patrol Field Operations Supervisor, Demming, N. Mex. Clay Tippit, Border Patrol Pilot, Marfa, Tex. Distinguished semi-automatic pistol Danny Conway, Supervisory Border Patrol Agent, Glynco, Ga. Gina Hernandez, Border Patrol Firearms Training Operations Supervisor, Glynco Ga. Clay Tippit, Border Patrol Pilot, Marfa, Tex. Allen Parsons, Supervisory Border Patrol Agent, Burke, N.Y. Master pistol team Clay Tippit, Border Patrol Pilot, Marfa, Tex. Allen Parsons, Supervisory Border Patrol Agent, Burke, N.Y. Robert Vadasz, Senior Border Patrol Agent, Boulevard, Calif. John Poole, Border Patrol Special Operations Supervisor, Carrizo Springs, N.Y. Expert pistol team Danny Conway Supervisory Border Patrol Agent, Glynco, Ga. Gina Hernandez, Border Patrol Firearms Training Operations Supervisor, Glynco Ga. John Ketzler, Border Patrol Senior Special Agent, San Angelo, Tex. Steven Vines, Border Patrol Field Operations Supervisor, Demming, N. Mex. Swimming - two-mile open water swim John Zeigler, CBP Senior Inspector, Atlanta Ga. Swimming - 100-meter butterfly John Zeigler, CBP Senior Inspector, Atlanta Ga. SILVER Individual 1500 Pistol Competition Roberto Santos, Border Patrol Special Operations Supervisor, Laredo Tex. John Poole, Border Patrol Special Operations Supervisor, Carrizo Springs, N.Y. Distinguished Revolver John Poole, Border Patrol Special Operations Supervisor, Carrizo Springs, N.Y. Distinguished semi-automatic pistol Roberto Santos, Border Patrol Special Operations Supervisor, Laredo Tex. Robert Vadasz, Senior Border Patrol Agent, Boulevard, Calif. Pentathlon Robert Clement, CBP Outbound Inspector, JFK International Airport, N.Y. Swimming Individual 200-meter medley John Zeigler, CBP Senior Inspector, Atlanta Ga. Swimming - Individual 100-meter butterfly John Zeigler, CBP Senior Inspector, Atlanta Ga. Swimming -Team 200-meter relay medley USA II - John Zeigler, CBP Senior Inspector, Atlanta Ga. Swimming -Team 200 meter swimming freestyle relay USA II - John Zeigler, CBP Senior Inspector, Atlanta Ga. BRONZE Individual 1500 Pistol Competition Clay Tippit, Border Patrol Pilot, Marfa, Tex. Distinguished Revolver Danny Conway Supervisory Border Patrol Agent, Glynco, Ga. Robert Vadasz, Senior Border Patrol Agent, Boulevard, Calif. Distinguished semi-automatic pistol J Steven Vines, Border Patrol Field Operations Supervisor, Demming, N. Mex. John Poole, Border Patrol Special Operations Supervisor, Carrizo Springs, N.Y. 10K cross country run Diana L Beeson, CBP Senior Field Analytical Specialist, Miami, Fla. 5000 meters run Diana L Beeson, CBP Senior Field Analytical Specialist, Miami, Fla. Biathlon Robert Clement, CBP Outbound Inspector, JFK International Airport, N.Y. Toughest Competitor Alive Robert Clement, CBP Outbound Inspector, JFK International Airport, N.Y. Swimming - 100 meter breaststroke John Zeigler, CBP Senior Inspector, Atlanta Ga. Swimming - 100 meter freestyle John Zeigler, CBP Senior Inspector, Atlanta Ga. Swimming - 400 meter freestyle John Zeigler, CBP Senior Inspector, Atlanta Ga.