Photo By Sgt. Timothy Massey | Multinational Soldiers run the 40 meter dash during the Invictus Games held at the...... read more read more
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YAVORIV, Ukraine- Soldiers from the Tennessee Army National Guard competed with Soldiers from Canada, Denmark, Poland, and Ukraine in honor of the 2018 Invictus Games, here, Oct. 20.
This multinational competition consisted of a bench press competition, 100-meter race, 400-meter race, 1500-meter race, and concluded with a tug-o-war match. Not only did this event challenge competitors, but it also enabled Soldiers to show support to the opening ceremony and to those competing in the 2018 Invictus Games.
The Invictus Games is an annual event created by the Duke of Sussex as a way for multinational Soldiers injured while serving their country can come together through sports and competition. The games provide motivation and empowerment for rehabilitation.
Although Soldiers deployed to the Yavoriv Combat Training Center are not participating in the 2018 Invictus Games, they competed as a tribute to the opening ceremony.
Canadian Soldiers from Operation Unifier hosted this event for the first time at the YCTC. Maj. Simon Mailloux, assigned to Operation Unifier and one of the coordinators for the event, is an amputee who previously competed in the Toronto and Orlando Invictus Games.
“We held a ceremony here today to honor those in the opening ceremony to the Invictus Games," stated Mailloux. "I’ve had a bit of experience with Invictus, and I know it can be an intense moment for them."
"They are starting to compete tomorrow, and we wanted to give them a warm good luck.”
Mailloux was injured from an Improvised Explosive Device explosion while deployed to Afghanistan in 2007. This is his third deployment, after he returned to Afghanistan in 2009.
“Although I’m deployed here and cannot participate this year, I still think about how the power of sports can help you to rehabilitate.”
1st Lt. Jackson Scott, one of the U.S. competitors here, discussed his enthusiasm for the opportunity to participate in this event.
"It was such an encouraging atmosphere, and I really cannot describe the level of respect I have for Soldiers like Maj. Mailloux and their ability to overcome such life-changing events and not let it define them," stated Scott. "It is truly inspirational."
This year, the Invictus Games is hosted in Sydney, Australia from Oct. 20-27. For more information, visit invictusgamesfoundation.org.
| Date Taken: | 10.20.2018 |
| Date Posted: | 10.22.2018 06:28 |
| Story ID: | 297198 |
| Location: | UA |
| Web Views: | 325 |
| Downloads: | 3 |
This work, Soldiers deployed to Ukraine pay tribute to the 2018 Invictus Games, by CPT Kealy Moriarty, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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