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.

History

The Warrior Games have taken place annually since 2010. It was created by the United States Olympic Committee and hosted through 2014 at the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, Colorado. Britain's Prince Harry, at the time serving as a Captain and helicopter pilot in the British Army, opened the 2013 Games, which inspired him to create the Invictus Games, an international counterpart to the Warrior Games with national representations.
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.
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. Jon Stewart emceed the ceremonies.

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. It was the first time that the games were held off a military base or U.S. Olympic training facility. Sponsors of the games included Boeing, Fisher House, the Pritzker Military Museum & Library, United Airlines, the Bob Woodruff Foundation, and many other companies.
Jon Stewart emceed the opening ceremonies which was followed by a concert by Kelly Clarkson and Blake Shelton. The attendance at the opening ceremony, which included a video message from Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel, was roughly 10,000. Blues artist Sam Moore sang God Bless America and Soul Man.
In addition to teams representing all branches of the United States armed forces, Australia and the United Kingdom had participating teams.
Leticia L. Vega, a Marine sergeant on the Special Operations Command team, took a medal in each event in which she competed.
The United States Navy team beat the United States Army team in the finals for sitting volleyball.
The United States Army team beat the United States Navy team in the finals for wheelchair basketball.

2018

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

Sports

In 2015 and 2016, the eight sports included were:
In 2015, wheelchair rugby was held as an exhibition sport.
In 2019, there will be 14 sports: archery, cycling, time-trial cycling, shooting, sitting volleyball, swimming, track, field, wheelchair basketball, indoor rowing, powerlifting, golf, wheelchair tennis and wheelchair rugby.

List of Warrior Games