Warrior Games

The Warrior Games is a multi-sport event for wounded, injured or ill service personnel and veterans organized by the United States Department of Defense (DoD).[1]

History

The Warrior Games have taken place annually since 2010. Through 2014, it was hosted by the United States Olympic Committee in Colorado Springs, Colorado.[2][3] Britain's Prince Harry, at the time serving as a Captain and helicopter pilot in the British Army, opened the 2013 Games,[4] which inspired him to create the Invictus Games.[5]

The 2015 event was the first organized by the DoD. It was held June 19–28 at the Marine Corps Base Quantico in Virginia. Teams from the Army, Marine Corps, Navy/Coast Guard, Air Force, Special Operations Command, and the British Armed Forces took part, competing in eight adaptive sports.[6][2]

In 2016, the event took place on June 15–21 at United States Military Academy in West Point, New York and was hosted by the United States Army.[7][8][9] Jon Stewart emceed the ceremonies.[10]

2017

In 2017, the event took place in Chicago and was hosted by the United States Navy. Chicago was chosen by the Navy over seven other potential sites in the United States.[9] It was the first time that the games were held off a military base or U.S. Olympic training facility.[11] Sponsors of the games included Boeing, Fisher House, the Pritzker Military Museum & Library, United Airlines, the Bob Woodruff Foundation, and many other companies.[12]

Jon Stewart emceed the opening ceremonies which was followed by a concert by Kelly Clarkson and Blake Shelton.[13] The attendance at the opening ceremony, which included a video message from Rahm Emanuel, was roughly 10,000.[14] Blues artist Sam Moore sang God Bless America and Soul Man.[14]

In addition to teams representing all branches of the United States armed forces, Australia and the United Kingdom had participating teams.[15][16]

Leticia L. Vega, a Marine sergeant on the Special Operations Command team, took a medal in each event in which she competed.[17]

The United States Army team beat the United States Navy team in the finals for wheelchair basketball.[18]

2018

The Air Force will host the 2018 Warrior Games at the United States Air Force Academy in June 2018.[19]

Sports

In 2015 and 2016, the eight sports included were:[2][8]

In 2015, wheelchair rugby was held as an exhibition sport.[2]

References

  1. ↑ Carter, Ash (13 March 2015). "Department of Defense Warrior Games 2015" (PDF). United States Department of Defense. Archived from the original (PDF) on 8 July 2015. Retrieved 7 July 2015.
  2. 1 2 3 4 "2015 Warrior Games - Warrior Games 101". Cvent. 2015 Department of Defense Warrior Games. Archived from the original on 7 July 2015. Retrieved 10 February 2016.
  3. ↑ "Warrior Games presented by Deloitte". Team USA. United States Olympic Committee. Retrieved 10 February 2016.
  4. ↑ "Prince Harry starts off Warrior Games event in US". BBC. 13 May 2013. Retrieved 6 July 2015.
  5. ↑ "Prince Harry launches Invictus Games for wounded servicemen". The Telegraph. 6 March 2014. Retrieved 6 July 2015.
  6. ↑ "Warrior Games". U.S. Department of Defense. Archived from the original on 6 July 2015. Retrieved 6 July 2015.
  7. ↑ "Warrior Games". Facebook. U.S. Department of Defense. Retrieved 10 February 2016.
  8. 1 2 "U.S. Military Academy to Host 2016 DoD Warrior Games". Washington, D.C.: U.S. Department of Defense. 14 December 2015. Retrieved 10 February 2016.
  9. 1 2 "US Navy to Host 2017 DoD Warrior Games in Chicago". United States Navy. July 22, 2016. Retrieved August 28, 2016.
  10. ↑ "Jon Stewart to host Warrior Games opening ceremony at West Point". Navy Times. May 25, 2016. Retrieved September 5, 2016.
  11. ↑ Affairs, This story was written by Commander, Navy Installations Command Public. "Final Countdown to 2017 DOD Warrior Games".
  12. ↑ "Sponsorship". www.dodwarriorgames.com.
  13. ↑ "Blake Shelton, Kelly Clarkson Teaming Up for Warrior Games Concert". The Boot.
  14. 1 2 "DoD Warrior Games Open With 265 Participants, Celebrities". 2 July 2017.
  15. ↑ "Jon Stewart to host Warrior Games opening at Soldier Field". Chicago Sun Times.
  16. ↑ "Injured Edinburgh veteran to compete in Warrior Games". www.edinburghnews.scotsman.com.
  17. ↑ Cohen, Julia Felsenthal, Adam Jason. "At the Department of Defense Warrior Games in Chicago, Winning Comes Second". Vogue.
  18. ↑ "Go Army, Beat Navy! Army team wins gold in Warrior Games wheelchair basketball".
  19. ↑ Guha, Amita. "AF to Host 2018 Warrior Games".
  20. ↑ "2016 DoD Warrior Games Track and Field" (PDF). DoD Warrior Games. p. G-10. Retrieved 3 October 2016.


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