"Veterans Games": About 70 British wounded men and women are competing this week against IDF disabled people in a variety of sports. They landed in Israel on Sunday and will stay until Thursday, when a festive graduation ceremony will take place at the Peres Center. The fighter in Tel Aviv.
Afterwards, the participants go on tours around the country, including Jerusalem, Tel Aviv and the Dead Sea. The event takes place as part of a collaboration between British organizations and at the initiative of the Friends of the British Warrior House (BHUK).
Disabled IDF (in blue) in front of the wounded of the British (in red), Photo: Yuval Yosef
Alongside the Games, there will also be a conference attended by professionals, experts, from the worlds of rehabilitation and mental health who will join the 180 members of the delegation from the UK, along with Israeli colleagues working in the field of mental and physical health of war wounded.
The conference will be chaired by Sir Simon Wesley, Professor of Psychological Medicine at the Institute of Psychiatry, King's College London and a British Army Psychiatric Adviser.
The Games are a unique venture of its kind in the world.
The entire event is funded by donations from philanthropists and is held thanks to a pious collaboration with leading welfare organizations in the field of military and security rehabilitation, which have engaged and recruited its participants for the project.
About 70 disabled British soldiers participate in competitions, Photo: Yuval Yosef
Among all the British wounded: commando fighters, paratroopers, policemen and sailors, who were wounded in their military service in Afghanistan, Iraq, Kosovo, terrorist attacks and other operational activities.
Among the contestants is Caroline Beasley who was fatally wounded by a sniper from the Irish Underground Organization and for years has refrained from social events.
Swimmer and world champion Hanoch Bodin, who was amputated following an injury in the First Lebanon War.
Ido Lazan, who was seriously injured in an attack on the alley pub on Dizengoff Street (2016) and underwent a lengthy rehabilitation process.
British war invalid lifts weights, Photo: Yuval Yosef
Chairman of the IDF Disabled People's Organization, Idan Kliman: "The IDF Disabled People's Organization and the IDF Disabled People's Foundation are pleased to host the British war wounded in Israel and to present them with the Warriors' Homes, unique rehabilitation centers of their kind in the world.
The family of the war wounded faces similar difficulties and challenges all over the world and our goal is to strengthen each other and learn from each other. "
"Ambassador of Veterans Games," Mark Ormerod, 38, served in a commando in the Royal Marine Corps.
Ormerod was injured in Afghanistan, becoming the first triple limb amputator in Britain.
Ormerrod says: "We have a lot in common with our fellow Israeli fighters. First and foremost, there is a consensus that sports and family are an essential component in our rehabilitation and joy of life, and that is the essence of this event, to celebrate family and sports."
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