Giunta, a Medal of Honour recipient from Cedar Rapids in Iowa, will light the torch at Warrior Games Opening Ceremony on May 16 to get proceedings underway at the United States Olympic Training Centre in Colorado Springs where the competition will take place.

"I'm really excited that I was asked to do this, it's truly an honour for me to kick off such an amazing competition with so many amazing people" said Giunta.

"All of the competitors have faced adversity in some shape or form and the fact that they have overcome it to not only compete at this event, but live full, quality lives is awesome."

Giunta, who has served in the US Army for almost eight years, became the first living recipient of the Medal of Honour, the United States' highest military decoration of valour, since the Vietnam War.

Giunta was cited for having saved the lives of members of his squad on October 25, 2007 while deployed in Afghanistan.

He exposed himself to enemy fire in order to pull a soldier back to cover when their platoon came under attack and for his bravery; he was awarded the medal from US President Barack Obama during a ceremony at the White House on November 16, 2010.

"It is a privilege to have Staff Sergeant Giunta as the torchbearer for the 2011 Warrior Games," said Scott Blackmun, the chief executive of the United States Olympic Committee, who oversee US Paralympics.

"He is a true hero who is a role model not only for those taking part in this competition, but for all people in the United States."

Giunta enlisted in the United States Army shortly after graduating from John F. Kennedy High School and attended basic training and infantry school before being deployed to Afghanistan with the Army's 173rd Airborne Brigade from March 2005 until March 2006 and again from May 2007 until July 2008.

Giunta is leaving the Army next month and his future plans include returning to school.

Meanwhile the Deloitte 2011 Warrior Games, which will take place from May 16-21, will see approximately 220 wounded, ill and injured servicemen and women from the Army, Marine Corps, Navy/Coast Guard, Air Force and Special Operations compete in seven sports.

The event is one component of the overall USOC Paralympic Military Programme, which is focused on providing daily physical activity as an important part of rehabilitation at the community and installation levels.

Through the programme, in collaboration with the Department of Defence, physical activity and sports participation rates at Warrior Transition Units, Wounded Warrior Battalions/Detachments and other Wounded Warrior programs throughout the United States have increased by 23 per cent in the past two years.

The 2011 edition of the competition will be the second time the Warrior Games has taken place following the inaugural event in Colorado Springs last year.

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