This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-22601092
The article has changed 4 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| World Police and Fire Games competitors 50% below target | World Police and Fire Games competitors 50% below target |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| The organisers of the World Police and Fire Games have confirmed the number of athletes who have signed up to take part is almost 50% below target. | The organisers of the World Police and Fire Games have confirmed the number of athletes who have signed up to take part is almost 50% below target. |
| With 10 weeks to go to the Belfast games, 5,047 competitors have registered so far - just over half of the 10,000 target. | |
| Teams are being urged to get their entries in by the end of this week. | Teams are being urged to get their entries in by the end of this week. |
| The games, being held in August, are billed as one of the biggest tourist events ever held in Northern Ireland. | |
| The cost of staging the competition is estimated at almost £14m. | |
| About half of that amount (£6.4m) is coming from the public purse, through Stormont's Department of Culture Arts and Leisure. | About half of that amount (£6.4m) is coming from the public purse, through Stormont's Department of Culture Arts and Leisure. |
| The organisers have always said they expected 10,000 competitors to register for the event in Northern Ireland - with police, fire and prison officers coming from 50 different countries. | The organisers have always said they expected 10,000 competitors to register for the event in Northern Ireland - with police, fire and prison officers coming from 50 different countries. |
| It was anticipated the competition would generate about £20m for the local economy, with thousands of athletes' family members accompanying them to Northern Ireland. | |
| However, those behind the games are now saying they are hopeful that 7,300 participants will eventually take part. | However, those behind the games are now saying they are hopeful that 7,300 participants will eventually take part. |
| If this reduced number is achieved, it will still fall short of the Stormont executive's expectations. | If this reduced number is achieved, it will still fall short of the Stormont executive's expectations. |