Noteboom The Law Firm

The Inaugural Warrior Games Kick off

April 16, 2010 - The first ever Warrior Games will run May 11- 14. The purpose of the games is to not only build confidence in disabled veterans but provide healing therapy. Instead of focusing on the veteran's disabilities, the Warrior Games will focus on what the veterans are able to do. The games will be held in Colorado Springs, Colorado and will hopefully prove to disabled veterans that despite their disabilities, they are of not only functioning but thriving.

The Warrior Games will be structured in paralympic-style competition and will feature 200 wounded active-duty personnel as well as veterans. The Warrior Games will be hosted by the U.S. Olympic Committee and will feature:

• Shooting;
• Swimming;
• Archery;
• Track;
• Discus;
• Shot put;
• Cycling;
• Sitting volleyball; and
• Wheelchair basketball.

Courtesy of the Department of Defense (DoD), the competitors to have access to paralympic coaches for a few days prior to the start of the competition as well as lodging and access to the dining facilities at the Olympic training site which is where the games will be held. The DoD will also fund one person to accompany competitors with special needs

To qualify as a competitor, participants must:

• Be active-duty personnel or a veteran;
• With bodily injuries AND mental wounds, e.g., post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) or traumatic brain injury (TBI).

Hopefully the inaugural Warrior Games will garner enough participation and attention to warrant becoming a yearly event. Certainly this is a chance for disabled military personnel to show off their true abilities.