Water can be a firefighters best friend — it's no wonder then that Penticton fire chief Wayne Williams doesn't mind dipping his feet into the pool.

Williams is competing this week in the World Police and Fire Games with over 10,000 athletes in Vancouver. The fire chief will be participating this weekend in the 50 metre butterfly, 100 m free, 50 m free and 50 m breaststroke.

"My daughter joined the KISU swim club a couple of years ago and every time I took her to practise I remembered my time in the pool.  I joined the KISU Masters and have been training on and off over the last year," said Williams.

The games are held every two years with the intent on bringing together the emergency services community for 10 days of sport, celebrating camaraderie, community and competition. This years Games, which run until Aug.9, will be one of the best ever attended with athletes coming from backgrounds of full-time professional firefighters, law enforcement, customs and correctional officers from around the world. "When I heard the games were going to be in Vancouver I set a goal to compete.  The games are close to home and I was able to take holidays at this time," said Williams. "I am really looking forward to meeting other emergency personnel from around the world.  If I don't win anything this time it will be a lesson learned and there is always next time (2011 - World Police and Fire Games in New York City)."

Joining Williams is Penticton firefighter Chad Taylor who will be competing with the West Coast Fire hockey team.

More than 60 sports are on display at over 50 venues, the World Police and Fire Games will provide hundreds of free opportunities to cheer on the 2,500 B.C. athletes as they take on the world. Some of the events featured at the Games include boxing, field lacrosse, golf, judo, police service dogs, toughest competitor alive, ultimate firefighter and wakeboard/waterskiing.

According to Games CEO Stuart Ballantyne, the excellent turnout for the Games is a reflection of British Columbia’s global reputation as a spectacular tourism destination as well as the hard work and long hours put in by Games staff and Board of Directors over the past six years.

“This spectacular response to the 2009 World Police and Fire Games is a real testament to the perseverance and commitment of the organizers,” said Minister of Healthy Living and Sport Ida Chong. “The men and women who keep B.C. communities safe are some of the fittest athletes in the world, and the Games are a great demonstration of their achievements and of the benefits of physical activity and a healthy lifestyle.”

For more information on the World Police and Fire Games or to view results visit www.2009wpfg.ca.