Warrior Games
| First event | 2010 – USA |
|---|---|
| Occur every | 1 years |
| Last event | 2023 – USA |
| Next event | 2024 – USA |
| Purpose | To conduct multi-sport events for sports and disciplines that are contested in the Olympic Games (+ more sports) but for masters, injured or ill service personnel and veterans |
| Website | http://www.dodwarriorgames.com/ |
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
2010–2014
The Warrior Games have taken place annually since 2010. It was created by John Wordin working with Gen. Gary Cheek (U.S. Army) while participating in the Ride 2 Recovery 2009 Texas Challenge. Subsequently, a meeting was held at the Pentagon with USO (Sloan Gibson, Kevin Wensing, Jeff Hill) Gen Cheek, Gen. David Blackledge and Sgt. James Shriver. Soon USMC Col. Greg Boyle and the United States Olympic Committee got involved too. The first event was hosted at the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, Colorado, which continued to host the event through to 2014.[2][3] Teams from the Army, Marine Corps, Navy/Coast Guard, Air Force, Special Operations Command took part, competing in adaptive sports events that allow each athlete to compete regardless of their disability.[4]
Athletes from the British Armed Forces took part in 2013, the first allied nation to join the event. Britain's Prince Harry, at the time serving as a captain and helicopter pilot in the British Army, opened the Games that year.[5] His experience inspired him to create the Invictus Games, an international counterpart to the Warrior Games with representation from many national teams.[6]
2015–2016
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 competed in eight adaptive sports.[7][2]
In 2016, the event took place on June 15–21 at United States Military Academy in West Point, New York. It was hosted by the United States Army as the first on a rotational basis with the Navy, Air Force, Special Operations Command.[8][9][10] Jon Stewart emceed the ceremonies.[11]
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.[10] It was the first time that the games were held off a military base or U.S. Olympic training facility.[12] Sponsors of the games included Boeing, Fisher House, the Pritzker Military Museum & Library, United Airlines, the Bob Woodruff Foundation, and many other companies.[13]
Jon Stewart emceed the opening ceremonies which was followed by a concert by Kelly Clarkson and Blake Shelton.[14] The attendance at the opening ceremony, which included a video message from Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel, was roughly 10,000.[15] Blues artist Sam Moore sang God Bless America and Soul Man.[15]
In addition to teams representing all branches of the United States armed forces, Australia and the United Kingdom had participating teams.[16][17]
Leticia L. Vega, a Marine sergeant on the Special Operations Command team, took a medal in each event in which she competed.[18]
The United States Navy team beat the United States Army team in the finals for sitting volleyball.[19]
The United States Army team beat the United States Navy team in the finals for wheelchair basketball.[20]
2018–2019
The Air Force hosted the 2018 Warrior Games at the United States Air Force Academy in June 2018.[21] Sponsors of the games include Green Beans Coffee, Fisher House, Amazon, Under Armour, Dove and many other companies.[22][23]
Organized by the U.S. Special Operations Command, the 2019 games hosted in Tampa, Florida broke records in attendance and the number of featured sports.[24]
2022
The Army hosted the games for the second time in 2022 following a breakdown due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The event was held at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex Walt Disney World, Florida, with nearly 300 athletes attending.[25][26][27] The Canadian Armed Forces participated for the second time, following a training camp in Edmonton from July 11 to 15.[28][29] The Armed Forces of Ukraine participated for the first time, after a month-long training program in the United Kingdom at RAF Brize Norton before traveling to the games.[30][31] The Ukraine team won a number of medals at the games.[32][33]
2023
The Warrior Games Challenge was hosted by the Army on Naval Station North Island in San Diego.
Family Program
The Warrior Games Family Program, led by the Fisher House Foundation, has supported the athletes and their families since 2012.[34]
Sports
In 2015 and 2016, the eight sports included were:[2][9]
- Archery
- Cycling
- Field: Events included men's and women's shot put, standing shot put, seated discus, and standing discus.[35]
- 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]
In 2019, there were 14 sports: archery, cycling, time-trial cycling, shooting, sitting volleyball, swimming, track, field, wheelchair basketball, indoor rowing, powerlifting, golf, wheelchair tennis and wheelchair rugby.[36][needs update]
Athletes competed in 12 sports in 2022: archery, cycling, field, golf, indoor rowing, powerlifting, shooting, sitting volleyball, swimming, track, wheelchair basketball, wheelchair rugby.[37]
List of Warrior Games
| Year | Dates | Location | Participants | Host | Participating Teams | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | May 10–14 | Colorado Springs, Colorado | 200 | United States Olympic Committee |  United States Armed Forces
|
[38] |
| 2011 | May 16–21 | 200+ | United States Armed Forces
|
[39] | ||
| 2012 | April 30–May 5 | 200+ | United States Armed Forces
|
[40] | ||
| 2013 | May 11–16 | 200+ | United States Armed Forces
|
[41] | ||
| 2014 | September 28–October 4 | 200+ | United States Armed Forces
|
[42] | ||
| 2015 | June 19–28 | Quantico, Virginia | 250 | United States Department of Defense | United States Armed Forces
|
[43] |
| 2016 | June 15–22 | West Point, New York | 250 | United States Army | United States Armed Forces
|
[44] |
| 2017 | July 1–9 | Chicago, Illinois | 265 | United States Navy | United States Armed Forces
|
|
| 2018 | June 2–9 | Air Force Academy, Colorado | 265 | United States Air Force | United States Armed Forces
|
[45] |
| 2019 | June 21–30 | Tampa, Florida | U.S. Special Operations Command | United States Armed Forces
|
[36] | |
| 2022 | August 19–28 | Orlando, Florida | Nearly 300 | United States Army | United States Armed Forces
|
[25][27] |
References
- ^ 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.
- ^ a b c d "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.
- ^ "Warrior Games presented by Deloitte". Team USA. United States Olympic Committee. Archived from the original on March 26, 2013. Retrieved 10 February 2016.
- ^ Forgey, Sarah G. (2023). "DoD WARRIOR GAMES ARTWORK". Army History (126): 30–35. ISSN 1546-5330. JSTOR 48725103.
- ^ "Prince Harry starts off Warrior Games event in US". BBC. 13 May 2013. Retrieved 6 July 2015.
- ^ "Prince Harry launches Invictus Games for wounded servicemen". The Telegraph. 6 March 2014. Archived from the original on 7 March 2014. Retrieved 6 July 2015.
- ^ "Warrior Games". U.S. Department of Defense. Archived from the original on 6 July 2015. Retrieved 6 July 2015.
- ^ "Warrior Games". Facebook. U.S. Department of Defense. Retrieved 10 February 2016.
- ^ a b "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.
- ^ a b "US Navy to Host 2017 DoD Warrior Games in Chicago". United States Navy. July 22, 2016. Retrieved August 28, 2016.
- ^ "Jon Stewart to host Warrior Games opening ceremony at West Point". Navy Times. May 25, 2016. Retrieved September 5, 2016.
- ^ Affairs, This story was written by Commander, Navy Installations Command Public. "Final Countdown to 2017 DOD Warrior Games".
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ^ "Sponsorship". www.dodwarriorgames.com.
- ^ "Blake Shelton, Kelly Clarkson Teaming Up for Warrior Games Concert". The Boot. 23 June 2017.
- ^ a b "DoD Warrior Games Open With 265 Participants, Celebrities". 2 July 2017.
- ^ "Jon Stewart to host Warrior Games opening at Soldier Field". Chicago Sun Times. 5 June 2017.
- ^ "Injured Edinburgh veteran to compete in Warrior Games". www.edinburghnews.scotsman.com.
- ^ Cohen, Julia Felsenthal, Adam Jason (14 July 2017). "At the Department of Defense Warrior Games in Chicago, Winning Comes Second". Vogue.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ^ "Sitting Volleyball Results". Retrieved May 10, 2023.
- ^ "Go Army, Beat Navy! Army team wins gold in Warrior Games wheelchair basketball". www.army.mil. 11 July 2017. Retrieved May 10, 2023.
- ^ Guha, Amita. "AF to Host 2018 Warrior Games".
- ^ "Warrior Games". dodwarriorgames.com. Retrieved May 10, 2023.
- ^ "Green Beans Coffee to be Official Coffee of 2018 Warrior Games". elevategourmetbrands.com. Retrieved May 10, 2023.
- ^ "Records fall as Warrior Games in Tampa draw most athletes, biggest crowds". Tampa Bay Times. Retrieved 2022-08-30.
- ^ a b "2022 Press Releases Details 4". Warrior Games. Retrieved 2022-08-26.
- ^ Wilson, Olivia (2022-08-17). "ESPN+ Coverage of The Department of Defense Warrior Games Begins August 19". ESPN Press Room U.S. Retrieved 2022-08-27.
- ^ a b "Florida gets the Warrior Games again in 2021". Tampa Bay Times. Retrieved 2022-08-30.
- ^ Rehman, Mishall. "Team Canada departs for 2022 Warrior Games". Canadian Military Family Magazine. Retrieved 2022-08-27.
- ^ Defence, National (2022-08-17). "Team Canada participates in the 2022 Warrior Games". www.canada.ca. Retrieved 2022-08-27.
- ^ "RAF Brize Norton welcome Ukrainian Armed Forces ahead of the Warrior Games 2022". Royal Air Force. July 13, 2022. Retrieved 2022-08-27.
- ^ "US Ambassador thanks RAF Brize Norton as Ukrainian vets fly to Warrior Games". Oxford Mail. August 19, 2022. Retrieved 2022-08-27.
- ^ "Ukrainians have already won 57 medals at the Warrior Games". odessa-journal.com. 2022-08-27. Retrieved 2022-08-27.
- ^ Didlake, Brian (2022-08-25). "'We are not alone:' Ukrainian soldiers compete at 2022 Warrior Games". WKMG. Retrieved 2022-08-27.
- ^ "Family". Warrior Games. Retrieved 2022-08-26.
- ^ "2016 DoD Warrior Games Track and Field" (PDF). DoD Warrior Games. p. G-10. Retrieved 3 October 2016.
- ^ a b "History". Warrior Games. Retrieved 2019-04-09.
- ^ "Results". Warrior Games. Retrieved 2022-08-26.
- ^ Sherman, Paul. "Defense.gov - Warrior Games". archive.defense.gov. Retrieved 2018-01-10.
- ^ "Defense.gov Special Report: 2011 Warrior Games". archive.defense.gov. Retrieved 2018-01-10.
- ^ Starken, Cody T. (2012-05-01). "First lady welcomes competitors to 2012 Warrior Games". www.army.mil. Retrieved 2018-01-10.
- ^ "Defense.gov Special Report: Warrior Games 2013". archive.defense.gov. Retrieved 2018-01-10.
- ^ Hillyer-Miles, Robin (2014-10-05). "Team Navy Brings Home 28 Medals from Warrior Games 2014". United States Navy. Retrieved 2018-01-10.
- ^ "2015 DoD Warrior Games". www.defense.gov. Retrieved 2018-01-10.
- ^ 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.
- ^ "Warrior Games". www.dodwarriorgames.com. Retrieved 2018-01-10.
External links
Media related to Warrior Games at Wikimedia Commons
