GEORGE NEWS - Garden Route District Municipality (GRDM) senior firefighter Emile Conrad will represent South Africa at the prestigious World Firefighter Games, in Aalborg, Denmark, from 7 to 14 September.

The World Firefighter Games, a bi-annual event, brings together firefighters from around the globe to compete in a variety of sports and foster a spirit of camaraderie. 

This year, approximately 3 000 firefighters are expected to attend the event in Denmark, where they will participate in 40 different sports. The Games began in 1990 in Auckland, New Zealand and were most recently held in Lisbon, Portugal, in 2022. Aalborg, Denmark, aims to create an unforgettable experience with a focus on sport, community, and unique cultural exchanges.

Councillor Jobiet Hoogbaard, Portfolio Chairperson of Community Services under which GRDM Fire Services reside, extends his best wishes to Conrad, encouraging him to do his best, represent South Africa and the Garden Route District, and above all, enjoy himself at the World Firefighter Games.

Among the many competitions, the Toughest Firefighter Alive (TFA) event stands out as the pinnacle of the World Firefighter Games, renowned for being the most challenging firefighting competition globally.

Conrad secured his place on the South African team after winning last year’s South African National TFA in Mossel Bay. 

At the previous World Firefighter Games in Lisbon, Conrad impressively ranked 10th overall and secured 2nd place in his age category (38-40). 

This year, Emile aims to surpass his previous achievements while continuing to promote fitness and conditioning within the firefighting community. Emile is scheduled to depart from George today, Wednesday 4 September and return on Tuesday 17 September.

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