Police Getting Ready For Masters Games

Police Getting Ready For Masters Games

Dunedin (Friday, 18 September, 2009) – Police staff in Dunedin are already getting ready for next year’s ACC New Zealand Masters Games – but not in the way you may think.

In what is becoming part of a tradition for the city’s police stations, more than 30 staff are training to compete in a variety of sports at the games.

The last time the Masters Games was held in Dunedin, in 2008, Police competed in a variety of sports – from ball room dancing to mountain biking, tennis and softball.

“It is a big list of sports that we compete in,” Senior Constable Toni Pelasio says. “But that’s the Masters Games. There is always something for everyone to enter.”

Police staff pay a small amount of their weekly wages into a Police Council of Sport fund and this is allocated out to pay for such things as sports trips and entry fees, including the Master Games fees.

For team events such as touch and netball, Police wear T-shirts identifying them as officers.

“We promote sport in the Police as it gives officers an interest outside work and enhances our relationships with the community. Plus it keeps us fit which is important too.

“Some of our teams are very social and some are quite competitive so we support almost everything.”

Snr Constable Pelasio is the chairperson of the Dunedin and Otago Police Council of Sport and practises what she preaches, or rather plays it. She’s a veteran of five Masters Games, including one in Wanganui, and usually competes in netball, softball and volleyball teams.

Police take annual leave to attend the Masters Games which are on next in Dunedin, from January 30 to February 7, 2010.

ENDS

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