World Police and Fire Games volunteers step up to the pedometer challenge

Thousands of volunteers at the World Police and Fire Games (WPFG) have been urged to put their best foot forward and step up to the Pedometer Challenge by Active Belfast.

Working as part of Belfast Strategic Partnership, Active Belfast has supplied 3,600 pedometers to volunteers at the games so that they will be able to measure the level of their physical activity during the course of the WPFG.

Dr Eddie Rooney, Chief Executive of the Public Health Agency and Co-Chair of the Belfast Strategic Partnership, said that every step taken by the volunteers counts towards a healthier lifestyle.

“The Public Health Agency is absolutely delighted to be involved through Active Belfast with the World Police and Fire Games, which will showcase dozens of sports.

“We are keen to see how many steps the volunteers take during the games. The volunteers can use the pedometers to record their daily steps, both when volunteering and on non-volunteering days, and then can calculate the distance that they have walked each day.”

The WPFG is the third-largest international multi-sport event in the world and apart from the actual games it is a fantastic opportunity to promote the physical health and mental wellbeing benefits of volunteering. The volunteers will be asked at the end of the games to supply the number of steps they recorded during the time period. This will show whether people take more steps when volunteering, which would indicate an increase in physical activity levels. Competitors from all over the world are taking part in the WPFG 2013 which run until 10 August and Active Belfast believes this is a great time to get involved in physical activity.

Dr Rooney said he hopes people across Northern Ireland will use the games as an inspiration to get active.

“You don’t have to be a world class athlete to be involved in physical activity and there are activities suitable for all abilities, whether it be going for a walk or run in the park, cycling or swimming.

“It is never too late to get active and we recommend that those who haven’t been very active recently build up their levels of activity gradually. Not only does taking part in physical activity have health benefits, but is also great fun as well.”

Adults should be aiming for 30 minutes of moderate physical activity most days (at least five days each week). To reap health benefits, activity should last ten minutes or more.

For further information on becoming involved in physical activity visit www.choosetolivebetter.com

The Belfast Strategic Partnership (BSP) was set up in 2011 by the Public Health Agency (PHA), Belfast City Council and Belfast Health and Social Care Trust to address the significant levels of inequality across the Belfast area.

Active Belfast forms part of the Belfast Strategic Partnership (BSP) in which participation in health-enhancing activities is a cross-cutting method to reducing life inequalities.