Orlando/CMEDIA: 35-person contingent of Team Canada is departing today for the 2022 United States Department of Defense Warrior Games to be held August 19 to 28 in Orlando, Florida, at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex at Walt Disney World Resort.
Team Canada’s 35-person contingent includes 14 serving members and 21 Veterans of the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF), who acquired an illness or a physical or mental health injury while serving Canada.
“I wish Team Canada luck and success at the 2022 Warrior Games…I thank members for continuing to inspire their peers and demonstrating the best of the Canadian Armed Forces as they continue along their journey of recovery at and beyond the Games,” Anita Anand, Minister of National Defence said in a news release.
With the goal to enhance the recovery and rehabilitation of ill and injured armed service members and Veterans, Warrior Games is providing exposure to adaptive sports representing service members’ involvement in an adaptive sports program with an incredible potential of participants through competitive sports.
“I applaud our Veterans and Canadian Armed Forces members…Participating in high-profile sports competitions require significant courage, resilience and camaraderie, which can be even more challenging when managing illness or injury. Team Canada athletes embody the very best to demonstrate the power of sport in recovery,” said General Wayne Eyre, Chief of the Defence Staff.
Of more than 250 competitors, Team Canada members include those from various U.S. Service Branches including CAF, the United States Army, Marine Corps, Navy, Air Force, and Special Operations Command, to compete in 11 adaptive sports including archery, cycling, field competition, indoor rowing, powerlifting, shooting, sitting volleyball, swimming, track, wheelchair basketball, and wheelchair rugby throughout the course of the games.
Led by the Canadian Armed Forces’ Soldier On program in collaboration with True Patriot Love Foundation, Team Canada participates in the 2022 Warrior Games.
Canadians are invited to follow Team Canada via live stream on the Warrior Games site.
Participants from Team Canada will take part in all 11 sports featured at the 2022 Warrior Games:
In its third participation of Canada in the Warrior Games, the 2022 Team Canada has taken part in a training camp held in Edmonton from July 11 to 15, 2022 with each athlete being linked with their coach and their chosen sports teams.
Established in 2010, the U.S. Department of Defense Warrior Games are held annually in the United States and helped inspire Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, to create the Invictus Games.
Both competitions are focused on the important role that sports can play in improving the lives of ill and injured armed forces members, Veterans, and their families.
Since its inception in 2007, Soldier On has supported more than 10,000 members and remains committed to supporting Veterans and serving CAF members with permanent or chronic mental health or physical illness or injury to adapt to their new normal and overcome their challenges.
#TeamCanada; #2022WarriorGames
