By Tom Degun

Warrior_GamesOctober 29 - The highly acclaimed 2010 Warrior Games, a disability sporting event in Colorado Springs organised by the United States Olympic Committee (USOC) and the Department of Defence (DoD), has been named Best New Sports Event by SportsTravel magazine.


The inaugural Games saw 189 wounded, injured and ill servicemen and women from all five service branches compete from May 10-14.

The goal of the competition, which returns to Colorado Springs in May 2011, was to inspire recovery, capitalise on physical fitness and promote new opportunities for growth and achievement while demonstrating the continued role physical fitness can play in service members' lives regardless of injury.

"Recognition of the Warrior Games is recognition for our nation's finest who serve in the Armed Forces," said USOC chief executive Scott Blackmun.

"The USOC, DoD and United Service Organisations (USO) are honoured to provide opportunities through physical activity and sport that assist in the rehabilitation process and get these heroic men and women back to living full and productive lives."

The 2011 Warrior Games will take place from May 16-21 and see 200 members from all five service branches in action in seven sports.

Timothy Schneider, publisher of SportsTravel magazine, added: "We are pleased to recognise these superior sporting events.

"Each of the winners is a prime example of achieving excellence in organisation and management for both competitors and spectators."

The SportsTravel Award winners were nominated and voted upon by readers of SportsTravel magazine.

In a blog exclusively for insideworldparasport earlier this month, Charlie Huebner, Chief of Paralympics at the United States Olympic Committee, said: "The Warrior Games is not just another sporting event, but rather an opportunity to stand behind a cause and witness the true essence of sport.

"It's a chance for us to help inspire recovery, promote physical fitness and create new opportunities for growth and achievement for these brave men and women.

"The Games are also an introduction to Paralympic sport for injured service members, and they help raise the profile of the Paralympic Movement across the US and worldwide."

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 Warrior Games to return to Colorado Springs
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May 2010: Warrior Games provide chance for injured troops to move forward claims Army veteran