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A moment of great pride for every citizen: Home Minister Amit Shah
- 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
- The announcement followed India’s final presentation to the California Police Athletic Federation (CPAF), the governing body of the Games, on 25thJune 2025 in Birmingham, Alabama
- Rashtriya Raksha University Vice Chancellor’s efforts bear fruits
- India is also bidding to organise the Olympic Games for the first time in 2036, with Ahmedabad likely to be the main host city
NE SPORTS BUREAU
GANDHINAGAR (INDIA), BIRMINGHAM, ALABAMA, USA, JUNE 26
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 (Kevadia) 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,” a release from the state government said.
“The bid underwent a rigorous technical and administrative evaluation process over a period of 15 months,” it added.
India is also bidding to organise the Olympic Games for the first time in 2036, with Ahmedabad likely to be the main host city.
The bid team from Gujarat during the final presentation at Birmingham included Ashwini Kumar, IAS, Principal Secretary, Sports, Youth, and Cultural Activities Department, and M. Thennarasan, IAS, Principal Secretary, Urban Development & Urban Housing Department, highlighting the State’s preparedness and commitment towards delivering an athlete-focused Games.
“The proposal from India highlighted a sustainable, tech-driven, and culturally immersive Games edition,” the release said.
“Highlights include a digital ‘One-Pass’ credential system, an integrated command platform for real-time operations, and the first-ever truly sustainable WPFG.” “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,” it added.
Gujarat’s value proposition 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.
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.
A global recognition of our sprawling sports infrastructure built under the leadership of PM Narendra Modi, says Home Minister Amit Shah
Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation, Amit Shah express happiness on Bharat being designated as the host country for the prestigious 2029 World Police and Fire Games, terming it as a moment of great pride for every citizen.
In a post on X platform, Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation said that “It is a moment of great pride for every citizen, as Bharat has been designated as the host country for the prestigious 2029 World Police and Fire Games. Bharat winning the prestigious bid to host the event is a global recognition of our sprawling sports infrastructure built under the leadership of PM Shri Narendra Modi Ji. Ahmedabad being selected as the venue of the event that brings together police, fire, and disaster services to compete in more than 50 sports is a testament to the city’s rising stature as a sporting destination”.
Rashtriya Raksha University’s efforts bear fruits
The journey began on 9th June, 2022 (VC/707) when Professor (Dr.) Bimal N. Patel, Vice-Chancellor of Rashtriya Raksha University, addressed a compelling proposal to the Union Home Minister, Shri Amit Shah. The letter underscored RRU’s ambition to serve as the nodal organization for hosting the WPFG, aligning perfectly with the Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s “Sporting India moment” and promoting sports as for global peace.
Professor Patel’s letter powerfully articulated the multifaceted benefits of hosting such an event- local tourism sector and generating employment. Furthermore, the initiative was seen as a powerful means to strengthen ties with law enforcement organizations from different nations.
Rashtriya Raksha University, confidently asserted its capability to develop “excellent infrastructure to host the event in 2027” itself. Later in October 2024 the California Police Athletic Federation (CPAF) delegation visited RRU and applauded the preparation and spirit to host the games in India.
