Ukrainian servicemen and veterans are among the competitors at the United States Air Force Trials 2024

Ukraine was invited to participate in the United States Air Force Trials 2024. This March 30 participants, chosen by the selection committee for the national team, are traveling to Las Vegas to compete in the upcoming trials. 

This was highlighted during a briefing at the Media Center Ukraine – Ukrinform. 

As noted during the briefing, the process of being chosen to participate, as well as taking part in such a sports event is a great opportunity for service members and military veterans to try themselves in adaptive sports, and moreover also include adaptive athletics in their recovery plan. 

“I really think the selection committee to decide on the team members was quite a challenge, since most of the participants showed outstanding results and proved that they are fighters whose will is way more strong than their bodies. For the first time, we arranged a training camp prior to the qualifying competition itself, to involve as many servicemen and veterans as possible. We are very pleased that most of the participants, which is about 60%, are those who have tried their hand in adaptive sports for the first time,” said Ihor Krytsak, coordinating manager at the US Air Force Competitions.

At the same time, Anna Bielorusova, Chief Operating Officer at the Centre for Strategic Communications StratCom Ukraine, added that being part of the qualifying competitions and the trials itself emphasize the importance of opportunities for health and healing through sports programs, and now it’s so critical to create the necessary conditions for military veterans and service members to be able to undergo such rehabilitation.

“We use the term ‘fighters whose will is stronger than their bodies’ for a reason, as it accurately displays what is happening at training camps and during competitions. It is very important for us to develop and deliver conditions to aid the rehabilitation of servicemen who are currently making the transition back to civilian life right, while the war is still ongoing. And we must create opportunities for service members and military vets to engage them in recovery through sports activities, regardless of whether they are summoned for the national team or not,” she added.

Recall, that the United States Air Force Trials is a competitive event featuring sports adapted for wounded warriors from the U.S. Air Force and Marine Corps. The competition will take place in March 2024 in Las Vegas (Nevada).

Read more: https://mediacenter.org.ua/news