JOINT BASE LEWIS-McCHORD, Wash. – Awe-inspiring athleticism will be on display at Joint Base Lewis-McChord starting Feb. 1, as the base hosts a Feb. 1 to 5 training camp for the inaugural winter Invictus Games Vancouver Whistler 2025. The training camp will prepare the U.S. athletes for the games, to be held in British Columbia from Feb. 8 to 16.
ID card holders are encouraged to come and cheer for the athletes during scrimmages Feb. 5 as they prepare for the large-scale, international military adaptive sports competition. The event honors the nation’s wounded, ill and injured service members and veterans and those of participating allied countries.
A wheelchair basketball scrimmage takes place at the Soldiers Field House on Lewis Main Feb. 5 at 8:45 a.m., a sitting volleyball scrimmage begins at 10:30 a.m., a sitting volleyball exhibition game starts at 1 p.m., and a wheelchair rugby scrimmage begins at 2:15 p.m.
“I think it'll mean a whole lot to athletes to know they have that support, especially because they'll be a little bit nervous,” said Lt. Col. Amanda Miller, chief of adaptive reconditioning for the Army Recovery Care Program who also operates as the U.S. Army Reserve public affairs officer for the Warrior Games and Invictus Games. “They know they're going into big competitions, so just having people there to cheer them on and to support them throughout the recovery journey would just be something very special.”
The training sessions for about 50 athletes during the rest of the week will include swimming, curling, wheelchair basketball, wheelchair rugby, sitting volleyball and indoor rowing. The athletes trained on winter sports at Lake Placid, New York, Jan. 6-9.
Logistics had a big part in JBLM’s selection as a training location, Miller said.
“JBLM is so close to (Canada) that we're able to just drive up there and have all athletes come together and train together first, which is something that's really nice to do because they're coming from all across the country and most of them don't know each other,” she said. “So, it gives them a chance to really bond as Team U.S. and to do some of those practices.”
Miller also said JBLM has great facilities, has been wonderful to work with and is very supportive of the event.
“So, it just made it a very easy choice for a training camp,” she said.
"Hosting Team USA's Invictus Games training camp is an honor for JBLM as we support the wounded warrior athletes competing in these inaugural Winter Games,” said Scott Smith, lead planner for the Invictus Games training camp at JBLM. “The training camp is an opportunity for us to honor the service of the athletes while showcasing the world-class facilities and support that JBLM provides."
To learn more about the Invictus Games, please visit: https://invictusteamus.com/
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