Birmingham, Alabama, USA, 26th June 2025: In a significant boost to India’s aspirations of emerging as a sporting superpower, the country has been awarded the hosting rights for the 2029 World Police & Fire Games (WPFG). Scheduled to be held across Ahmedabad, Gandhinagar, and Ekta Nagar in Gujarat, the biennial event is expected to welcome over 10,000 athletes from more than 70 countries, representing police, fire, customs, and correctional services.
This victory positions India as the first South Asian nation to host the WPFG since the Games’ inception in 1985. The announcement followed India’s final presentation to the California Police Athletic Federation (CPAF), the governing body of the Games, on 25th June 2025 in Birmingham, Alabama. India now joins a prestigious group of past host nations including Canada, Australia, the Netherlands, China, and the United States, affirming its arrival as a central player in the global multi-sport ecosystem.
The bid underwent a rigorous technical and administrative evaluation process over a period of 15 months. The bid team from Gujarat during the final presentation at Birmingham included Shri Ashwini Kumar, IAS, Principal Secretary, Sports, Youth, and Cultural Activities Department, and Shri M. Thennarasan, IAS, Principal Secretary, Urban Development & Urban Housing Department, highlighting the State’s preparedness and commitment towards delivering an athlete-focused Games.
Gujarat’s value propisition stood out for its athlete-first philosophy, with a commitment to streamlined visa processes, pre-negotiated accommodation, multi-modal transportation network support, and comprehensive medical support, ensuring ease, affordability, and safety throughout the athlete journey. With aspirational participation targets and robust infrastructure availability, India aims to deliver the largest WPFG in the 40 years of history of the Games.
The proposal from India highlighted a sustainable, tech-driven, and culturally immersive Games edition. Highlights include a digital “One-Pass” credential system, an integrated command platform for real-time operations, and the first-ever truly sustainable WPFG. The Games will double up as a platform to inspire youth across the country to consider careers in emergency services, backed by nationwide school outreach and awareness programs.
Building on the success of the 36th National Games in 2022, the 2029 WPFG adds credibility to Gujarat’s ambitions of becoming the country’s leading destination for high-performance, multi-sport events. With over 15 venues already operational, the Games will leverage existing infrastructure while introducing global-standard overlays and operational systems.
The Games are also expected to leave a lasting legacy. Economically, the event will drive tourism, create jobs, and catalyze infrastructure upgrades. At the community level, it will promote civic engagement and volunteerism while exposing local populations to diverse global cultures. Digitally, a dedicated Games app will be handed over to CPAF for future use, ensuring continuity and innovation across future editions. The successful delivery of the Games will further elevate India’s credentials on the world stage as a credible host of major international events.
