Wounded service members from each branch of the military renew their fighting spirit in the inaugural Warrior Games, held May 10-14 at the U.S. Olympic National Training Center in Colorado Springs, Colo.
Warrior Transition Commander Brigadier General Gary Cheek initiated this collaboration among the U.S. Olympic Committee, American Red Cross, Ride 2 Recovery and USO. The event brings together 200 wounded, injured and ill servicemen and -women from the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps and Coast Guard, who have suffered from amputations, spinal cord injuries, post-traumatic stress disorder and traumatic brain injury.
The Army has identified the 100-member Army team that will compete in the Games, Erich Langer, Strategic Communication Division of the U.S. Army Warrior Transition Command (WTC), told O&P Business News.
Reaction from these service members has been outstanding, Langer said, which was the purpose of creating this event.
“WTC encourages all athletes to use sport as a key component in their healing process,” he said. “The competitive nature of bringing the services together in head-to-head competition should make Warrior Games enjoyable for each of the athletes.”
Although Paralympic athletes are not eligible to compete in the Warrior Games, one of the goals of this event is to encourage the wounded service members through the high level of competition at the Games.
“I don’t think it would be a stretch of the imagination to see some of the 2010 Warrior Games participants competing in future Paralympic Games,” Langer said.
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