For the first time, the XXV Anniversary International Conference of the International Sport Federation of Firefighters and Rescuers was held in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

From 17 to 21 November 2024, the XXV International Conference of the heads of fire and rescue services of ministries, departments, associations, federations of countries, members of the International Sports Federation of Firefighters and Rescuers was held in Riyadh.

The Conference was attended by representatives of fire and rescue services of 19 states: the Republic of Austria, the Republic of Azerbaijan, the Republic of Belarus, the Republic of Bulgaria, the Republic of India, the Islamic Republic of Iran, the Republic of Kazakhstan, the Republic of Cameroon, the State of Qatar, the Kyrgyz Republic, the People's Republic of China, Mongolia, the People's Republic of Latvia, the Russian Federation, the Slovak Republic, the Republic of Turkey, the Republic of Uzbekistan, the Czech Republic and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia - the hosts of the Conference.

Each Conference of the International Sports Federation of Firefighters and Rescuers is a forum of like-minded people for constructive dialogue aimed at the development of fire and rescue sports at the international level, introduction of innovations, identification of modern trends in the development of fire and rescue sports.

The Conference considered a number of important issues aimed at further development of fire and rescue sport and strengthening international cooperation between rescue agencies of different countries, as well as summarising the results of the 2024 World Championships and starting work on preparations for the 2025 World Championships.

His Excellency Hammoud Bin Suleiman Alfaraj, Director General of Civil Defence of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Alexander Chupriyan, President of the International Sports Federation of Fire Rescuers, Andrey Kalinin, Director of the International Sports Federation of Firefighters and Rescuers, addressed the Conference participants with welcoming speeches.

Director of the International Sports Federation of Firefighters and Rescuers Andrey Kalinin made a report, in which he summarised the results of the International Sports Federation of Firefighters and Rescuers for 2024 and defined the tasks for the period of 2025 in the following areas:

1. To organise interaction with the Organising Committee of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for the World Championships in 2025 in Riyadh.
2. Negotiate with new countries to become members of the International Sports Federation of Firefighters and Rescuers.
3. Encourage countries to work on the organisation of children's national teams to participate in the world championships among children and youth in fire and rescue sports.
4. To continue work on the issue of recognition of the sport ‘fire and rescue’ by the International Olympic Committee.

During the reporting period, the Republic of Cuba became members of the Federation, soon we are waiting for the Socialist Republic of Vietnam to join, the associated members - Limited Liability Company ‘Fire Safety Laboratory’ Indecom, Federal State Enterprise ‘Departmental Protection of Railway Transport of the Russian Federation’, Limited Liability Company ‘Association Krilak’, Limited Liability Company ‘REFORMA’.

Alexander Chupriyan expressed his gratitude to the countries that held the world championships in fire and rescue sports.

New world records in fire and rescue sport disciplines for men and women were also approved. The representatives of the Republic of Belarus, the Russian Federation, the Slovak Republic and the Republic of Turkey were awarded the titles of international category judges in fire and rescue sports. At the moment the International Federation counts 142 judges of the international category. The Plan of the main sports events of the Federation for 2025 and the Perspective Plan for 2025-2028 were agreed and approved.

Special attention of the conference participants was paid to the organisation and holding of the World Championships in 2025. Video presentations on holding the World Championships in Riyadh were presented. The Conference approved the regulations on holding XX World Championship among men and XI World Championship among women in fire-rescue sport from 26 October to 1 November 2025 in Riyadh (Kingdom of Saudi Arabia), XIV World Championship among boys and juniors and X World Championship among girls and juniors in fire-rescue sport from 21 to 27 August 2025 in Saransk (Republic of Mordovia, Russian Federation). The compositions of the Chief Officiating Boards of the World Championships 2025 were approved.

Countries, members of the International Sports Federation of Firefighters and Rescuers appreciated the work of the Sports and Technical Committee, Disciplinary Anti-Doping Committee, Sports Disciplinary Commission, Audit Commission.

The President of the Federation presented medals ‘For Services to the International Sports Federation of Firefighters and Rescuers’ to the heads of fire and rescue services of the countries, members of the International Sports Federation of Firefighters and Rescuers, as well as a commemorative plaque for great work on the preparation and organisation of the International Conference to Mr. Hammoud Bin Suleiman Alfarajd.