Warrior Games

Wheelchair basketball at the 2014 games
Swimming at the 2017 games
Archery at the 2017 games
Cycling at the 2017 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, an international counterpart to the Warrior Games with national representations.[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 Chicago Mayor 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 Navy team beat the United States Army team in the finals for sitting volleyball.[18]

The United States Army team beat the United States Navy team in the finals for wheelchair basketball.[19]

2018

The Air Force hosted the 2018 Warrior Games at the United States Air Force Academy in June 2018.[20] Sponsors of the games include Green Beans Coffee, Fisher House, Amazon, Under Armour, Dove and many other companies.[21][22]

Sports

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

  • Archery
  • Cycling
  • Field: Events included men's and women's shot put, standing shot put, seated discus, and standing discus.[23]
  • Shooting
  • Sitting volleyball
  • Swimming: Events included men's and women's 50 meter freestyle, 100 meter freestyle, 50 meter backstroke, and 50 meter breaststroke.
  • Track: Events included 100 meters, 200 meters, 400 meters, 800 meters, and 1500 meters. There were events for athletes using wheelchairs and those using prosthetics.
  • Wheelchair basketball

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

List of Warrior Games

Year Dates Location Participants Host Ref.
2010 May 10–14 Colorado Springs, Colorado 200 United States Olympic Committee [24]
2011 May 16–21 200+ [25]
2012 April 30–May 5 200+ [26]
2013 May 11–16 200+ [27]
2014 September 28–October 4 200+ [28]
2015 June 19–28 Quantico, Virginia 250 United States Department of Defense [29]
2016 June 15–22 West Point, New York 250 United States Army [30]
2017 July 1–9 Chicago, Illinois 265 United States Navy
2018 June 2–9 Air Force Academy, Colorado 265 United States Air Force [31]

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. ↑ "Sitting Volleyball Results".
  19. ↑ "Go Army, Beat Navy! Army team wins gold in Warrior Games wheelchair basketball".
  20. ↑ Guha, Amita. "AF to Host 2018 Warrior Games".
  21. ↑ "2018 Warrior Games Sponsors".
  22. ↑ "Green Beans Coffee to be Official Coffee of 2018 Warrior Games".
  23. ↑ "2016 DoD Warrior Games Track and Field" (PDF). DoD Warrior Games. p. G-10. Retrieved 3 October 2016.
  24. ↑ Sherman, Paul. "Defense.gov - Warrior Games". archive.defense.gov. Retrieved 2018-01-10.
  25. ↑ "Defense.gov Special Report: 2011 Warrior Games". archive.defense.gov. Retrieved 2018-01-10.
  26. ↑ Starken, Cody T. (2012-05-01). "First lady welcomes competitors to 2012 Warrior Games". www.army.mil. Retrieved 2018-01-10.
  27. ↑ "Defense.gov Special Report: Warrior Games 2013". archive.defense.gov. Retrieved 2018-01-10.
  28. ↑ Hillyer-Miles, Robin (2014-10-05). "Team Navy Brings Home 28 Medals from Warrior Games 2014". United States Navy. Retrieved 2018-01-10.
  29. ↑ "2015 DoD Warrior Games". www.defense.gov. Retrieved 2018-01-10.
  30. ↑ Leonard, Shannon; Robin Hillyer-Miles, Robin (2016-06-16). "Team Navy Receives Warm Welcome at 2016 Warrior Games". United States Navy. Retrieved 2018-01-10.
  31. ↑ "Warrior Games". www.dodwarriorgames.com. Retrieved 2018-01-10.
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