The Australian Defence Force (ADF) and Veteran Sport Australia (VSA) are to send a joint team to compete at the 2019 Warrior Games in the United States this month.
Minister for Defence Personnel, Darren Chester said getting to the 2019 Warrior Games was an important milestone and significant achievement for the team, comprising 12 current and 12 ex-serving, wounded, injured and ill personnel.
“To compete in the US with so many allied wounded, injured and ill personnel will be hugely beneficial for all competitors as they continue their rehabilitation process,” Mr Chester said.
“Approximately 300 wounded, injured and ill serving and ex-serving members will be competing, including from the United Kingdom, Canada, the Netherlands, Denmark and the US.”
He said that for the first time, golf, wheelchair tennis and wheelchair rugby would be among the 14 sports which include archery, cycling, shooting, sitting volleyball, swimming, track and field, wheelchair basketball, indoor rowing and powerlifting.
Corporal Caitlin Orchard of the Royal Australian Air Force (pictured) said it was an honour to be selected to represent the ADF.
“I am proud and thankful for this opportunity. I am really looking forward to competing,” Corporal Orchard said.
“It takes courage, ambition and perseverance to make a comeback from injury. I cannot wait to stand among all the competitors who share these attributes and show everybody what we have to offer.”
Mr Chester said Defence support for adaptive sport was growing quickly.
“Being able to showcase the resilience of our serving and ex-serving members through participation in events like the Warrior Games is extremely important in the recovery and rehabilitation process,” he said.
The Warrior Games were established in 2010 as a way to enhance the recovery and rehabilitation of wounded, injured and ill serving and ex-serving members, and to introduce them and their families to adaptive sports.
The 2019 edition will be held in Tampa Bay, Florida from 21 to 30 June.
