Prince Harry will meet some of the top competitors from the 2012 Warrior Games following the conclusion of the event at a special reception on May 7 at the British Ambassador's residence in Washington, it has been announced.
The Warrior Games, presented by Deloitte, will see over 200 wounded, ill and injured service members and veterans compete in an Olympic-style competition when it takes place for the third consecutive year in Colorado Springs, United States, from April 30 to May 5.It will be hosted by US Paralympics, the Paralympic division of the United States Olympic Committee (USOC).
For the first time ever, Britain will be competing at the event and Prince Harry will meet members of both the British and American Warrior Games teams in Washington.
The announcement gives further prestige to the event after it was revealed this week that First Lady Michelle Obama will attend the Opening Ceremony.
This came as the British Armed Forces team boarded their plane to the competition in a trip supported and funded by the UK charity Help for Heroes (H4H).
The UK squad of 21 will compete in the five sports of archery, cycling, swimming, track and field and sitting volleyball.
The wounded personnel who will be taking part in the Games include: Private Pa Njie; Private Thomas Lawlor; Captain Simon Maxwell; Sergeant Colin Hamilton; Captain David Henson; Corporal Karl Hubberstey; Trooper Corie Mapp; Guardsman Apisalome Matiyavi; Miss Samantha Bowen; Lance Corporal Maurillia Simpson; Private Declan Hill; Corporal Claire Edwards; and Private Scott Meenagh.
As an additional honour, Captain Simon Maxwell has been selected as an honorary Torchbearer for the event alongside First Lieutenant Melissa Stockwell of the US Army.
Stockwell from Chicago is an Iraq veteran while Maxwell from Croydon in England is an Afghanistan veteran.
The pair will light the cauldron together to officially start the event.
"We are delighted that Help for Heroes will support a UK team into such a high profile US event," said Bryn Parry, the chief executive and co-founder of Help for Heroes.
"Our participation in the Warrior Games is significant in raising awareness of the work that takes place worldwide in supporting wounded, injured and sick Service personnel, especially as we approach a busy year in sport."
The British Chief of the Defence Staff, General Sir David Richards, also praised Britain's involvement in the event.
"The 2012 Wounded Warrior Games are a great opportunity for our wounded and injured service personnel to show off their sporting prowess and to demonstrate the fantastic rehabilitation they have received through sport," he said.
"This will be the first time the UK has fielded a team in these games and this underlines the special relationship the UK and the US Armed Forces continue to share.
"I am proud to support the UK team and wish them the very best of luck for success in the Wounded Warrior Games."
The competition is also supported by the Department of Defense, US Department of Veterans Affairs, USO, Fisher House Foundation, The Daniels Fund, AT&T, BP, DeVry, Anheuser Busch and Chobani.
By Tom Degun/Contact:- tom.degun@insideworldparasport.biztom.degun@insideworldparasport.biz
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