Those who can, do …

Those who can’t teach …

Those who do it better than anybody else, run the show!

Thus is the case with Clinton Beach, a detective in the Major Crimes Division for a large Northern Virginian Police Department.  An accomplished and highly decorated 20-year professional bodybuilder with dozens of major competitions to his credit, Beach will serve as Sports Coordinator for the bodybuilding competition of next summer’s World Police & Fire Games, essentially running the show for the competition which will take place on Saturday, June 27 at George Mason University.

In addition to his professional responsibilities, Beach will officially join the Fairfax 2015 competition team two months prior to the Games, charged with the sole responsibility of promoting, managing and administering the bodybuilding portion of the competition.  But as he will quickly tell you – just like you can’t wait until the last minute when you’re a bodybuilder – his efforts on behalf of the Games are already well underway. 

“I’ve been working closely with the Fairfax 2015 team for months already, building the foundation and establishing the framework for what we all know will be a fascinating part of next summer’s Games,” he said.  The competition will feature men’s and women’s divisions for ages 18-29, 30-39, 40-49 and 50-plus, with additional divisions for height and “toning.”

According to Beach, 2015 will be the first World Police & Fire Games for the 42-year-old but he’s not even certain if he will have the time to participate.  “I’ll have a better idea when I get a little closer to the Games.  Regardless, I’m very much looking forward to working with the dozens of police officers and firefighters who will make this journey to the Washington, D.C. suburbs.”  For Beach, that effort will be a true labor of love.  “With great passion, I honor all military, police, firefighters, and civil service members who protect and serve,” he said.  “I thank you all for keeping this world intact.  Your dedicated service does not go unnoticed!”

 

Do you make the best chili in your fire house or police station? If so, create a team and join Fairfax 2015 at the Greater Reston Chamber of Commerce Oktoberfest Reston Chili Cook-off in collaboration with the 2015 World Police & Fire Games.

The event is held at Reston Town Center, which will be the home of the Athletes Village and provides an opportunity to introduce the community to the Games and for potential athletes to get a sneak peak of the Athletes Village.

“It is a natural fit for Fairfax 2015 to partner with the Greater Reston Chamber of Commerce to make the 2014 Guns ‘n Hoses Chili Cook-off the most competitive ever!” said Lt. Jaime Popik, Director, Ceremonies and Special Events “In 2013, the Games staff entered a team in the Guns ‘N Hoses Chili Cook-off and while we didn’t place but it was a great experience to engage with other public safety officials from around the region, for a great cause. So, we jumped on board to help increase the number of teams participating in the event by reaching out to police and fire departments throughout the National Capital Region and on the East Coast”. Rain or shine, Fairfax 2015 plans to enhance this event and showcase the great chili made by first responders.

To do this, we need you and your team to join the competition, bring the best chili recipe and compete for cash prizes on October 11 at Reston Town Center.  The competition is free to enter and each participating team will receive a $100 gift card to offset the purchase of supplies for your chili.

The proceeds from the Guns ‘N Hoses Chili Cook-off goes to the Reston First Responders Awards Committee, which is a partnership between the Fairfax County Police Department Reston District station and the Greater Reston Chamber of Commerce.

For more information on the Guns ‘N Hoses Chili Cook-off or to sign up please visit: http://www.oktoberfestreston.com/guns-n-hoses-chili-cookoff/

With less than 10 months before opening ceremonies of the 2015 World Police & Fire Games, the outreach to the local community has kicked off and the October outreach calendar will have the team traveling from Emmitsburg, Maryland to Bristow, Virginia. Each of these events will showcase the Games and help to educate the National Capital Region about the Games while recruiting athletes and VOLUNTEERS.

The month is highlighted by attendance at two Games Legacy Partners signature events, both of which occur the weekend of October 11-12. Fairfax 2015 committed to four Legacy Partners during the bidding process for the 2015 Games, those groups included: The National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund, National Fallen Firefighters Foundation, Fairfax County Chamber of Commerce Valor Award Scholarship Fund and the Cal Ripken Sr. Foundation.

Fairfax 2015 will join the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund for their fourth annual Law Enforcement Ride and Run to Remember, on October 10-12 in Washington, DC. The Ride & Run includes a 5K run, 2K Walk, and 55 and 30 mile rides, all designed to raise awareness and funds to honor the contribution and sacrifice law enforcement officers make every day. Learn more and register today: www.RideandRuntoRemember.org.

The National Fallen Firefighter Foundation’s mission is to honor and remember America’s Fallen Fire Heroes and to provide resources to assist their survivors in rebuilding their lives and work within the fire service community to reduce firefighter deaths and injuries. The 33rd Annual National Fallen Firefighters Memorial Weekend will be October 11-12, 2014 in Emmitsburg, Maryland and Fairfax 2015 will be on site to honor those who were lost in the line of duty over the past year. For more information please visit: http://www.firehero.org/events/memorial-weekend/about/.

Both of these Legacy Partners will assist with the planning and execution of the memorial ceremonies during the 2015 World Police & Fire Games.

In addition, to supporting our Legacy Partners during their signature events, Fairfax 2015 will have a presence at the Vienna Oktoberfest, hosting the Fall for Fairfax Open Invitational Pickleball Doubles Tournament and running the World Police & Fire Games Challenge at the Youth for Tomorrow 29th Annual County Fair & Auction.

“Engaging the community throughout Fairfax County and National Capital Region is one of our top priorities” said Stephen Zack, Vice President, Marketing and Communications at Fairfax 2015. “We are concentrating on building awareness for the Games, registering 12,000 athletes and recruiting the VOLUNTEERS needed to ensure a successful event”.

When the Toughest Competitor Alive (TCA) takes center stage at next summer’s World Police & Fire Games, one participant to watch will be a 14-year veteran firefighting mother of three from Toronto, Ontario.

A First Class Firefighter and Shift Training Instructor for Toronto Fire Services, Tamara Sylvan participated in the TCA during the New York Games in 2011.  While she failed to reach the podium, she can take solace in her effort.  “It was a great experience,” she said.  “The competition was fierce --  watch out for those Spanish ladies!  I managed some personal bests but I still have a long way to go before I medal.  I will be pushing extra hard this winter to make sure I come back stronger than I did in 2011.”

One of the most demanding of all the competitions, TCA actually consists of eight events over a single day.  It begins with a 7 a.m. 5K cross country “run from hell,” as Tamara describes it followed by shotput and a 100-meter dash at the track.  Competitors then move to the pool for a 100 meter swim sprint before heading to the gym for a 20-foot, hands-only rope climb followed by bench press and pull-ups.  The competition concludes outdoor with a firefighter/EMT obstacle course which includes a dummy drag, monkey bars and wall climb.

While Toronto Fire sends hundreds of competitors to the Games and several compete in multiple sports, TCA will be Tamara’s only event.  “Trust me when I tell you, one is enough with TCA,” she says.  

The training, Tamara says, is intense.  “For me, it’s incredibly challenging balancing training, three kids, full-time firefighting and owning my own CPR and First Aid company,” she says.  “I am also on the board of directors for The Toronto Firefighters Toy Drive, I teach at Toronto-area colleges and I also need to find some time for hubby who owns his own fitness studio and designs all of my training programs and nutrition.”  

With the games less than 10 months away, Tamara expects to elevate that training in the coming months.  “While most TCA competitors train harder in summer, I have to scale back because my three kids are out of school, so I will be ramping up my training efforts and time significantly this winter. I feel that I am a bit behind in training right now, but we will have to wait and see what happens. I am crossing my fingers that my back and shoulder will hold up!”

For a detailed look at next Summer’s Toughest Competitor Alive event, please visit http://fairfax2015.com/sports/tca

In an effort to help spread the word about next summer’s Games and attract both volunteers and participants from local communities, Fairfax 2015, the not-for-profit corporation created to administer the World Police & Fire Games, will participate in several community events and public activities over the next 10 months.  

“From the Reston Triathlon to the Virginia State Police Chief’s Association Annual Conference, Fairfax 2015 will have a major presence at some of the most popular and heavily attended public events and functions in and around Northern Virginia,” said Manager of Community Outreach, Courtney Counts.  “Depending on the nature of each event, we plan to do something a little different each time around.”  At the October 4 and 5 Fall for Fairfax Festival, for example, Fairfax 2015 will host  the “2014 Fall for Fairfax Invitational Pickleball Doubles Tournament” while fielding a chili cookoff team as part of Oktoberfest Reston’s Guns ‘N Hoses competition on October 11 and12.

At each event, Fairfax 2015 will distribute competition information while furthering their call for volunteers, upwards of 4,000 of which will be needed to help facilitate next Summer’s Games.

Upcoming events at which the World Police & Fire Games Team will activate include:

Pink Heelz, Reston Town Center (Sept. 6) and at Fairfax Government Center (Sept. 9)

Fall for Fairfax Community Festival, Fairfax Government Center (Oct. 4 - 5)

Youth For Tomorrow County Fair & Auction, Bristow, VA (Oct. 4)

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Ride to Remember, Washington, DC, (Oct. 11 - 12)

Oktoberfest Chili Cookoff Competition, Reston, VA (Oct. 11)

For additional information, or to volunteer for next summer’s Games, please visit www.fairfax2015.com.