Physician Partners of America supporting first Warrior Games in Tampa –
On June 21, some 300 inspirational military athletes will come together in Tampa, Fla. for the Department of Defense (DOD) Warrior Games, and PPOA will stand ready to assist them.
This Paralympics-style competition will run through June 30 in venues throughout the city. Its purpose is to allow disabled athletes to experience the healing power of sports while drawing inspiration from their fellow warriors and teammates.
It is free and open to the public.
Dr. Abraham Rivera, a veteran himself, is the Chief Medical Officer of Physician Partners of America and will welcome veterans from around the world to town. He and others from PPOA will volunteer their time during the games by offering consultations, x-rays and MRIs as needed.
“We are proud to offer our staff and facilities to these brave athletes during the games,” says Dr. Rivera. “They are truly an inspiration to us all.”
Established in 2010, the Warrior Games’ mission is to enhance the recovery and rehabilitation of wounded, ill and injured service members and veterans. They come from all military branches including the U.S. Army, Marine Corps, Navy, Air Force and Special Operations Command (SOCOM).
They have overcome a variety of challenges such as injuries to their upper or lower body and spinal cord. Some have suffered traumatic brain injuries, visual impairment, serious illnesses or post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
This is the first year the highly anticipated games will be held in Tampa. Teams have expanded, as this year’s Warrior Games will include five additional teams from U.S. allied nations: the Australian Defence Force, Canadian Armed Forces, the United Kingdom Armed Forces, the Danish Armed Forces and the Dutch Armed Forces.
Fourteen adaptive sports will be represented including archery, track, field, indoor rowing, powerlifting, road race cycling, time trial cycling, shooting, sitting volleyball, swimming and wheelchair basketball. For the first time, there will be competitions in golf, wheelchair rugby and wheelchair tennis.
The mission of USSOCOM’s warrior care program is to provide wounded, ill, and injured Special Operations Forces, veterans, and their families with advocacy after a life-altering trauma or illness to enhance their quality of life and strengthen SOF readiness.
The games will demonstrate the mass potential of wounded warriors through sports and show their incredible ability to prosper and overcome their challenges. For tickets, visit DODWarriorGames.com.
