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100+ vets ranging from their 20s to 50s, gathered in Israel with their families
for friendly competitions in swimming, X-Fit, rifle shooting, and met with
post-trauma and rehabilitation experts.
More than 100 Israeli and British injured veterans
joined in Israel for the inaugural Veteran Games and Conference, a five-day
event hosted by Zahal
Disabled Veterans’ Organization at the Beit Halochem rehab,
rec and sports centers in Tel Aviv and Jerusalem for disabled vets and their
families.
Participants
ranging from their 20s to 50s, and accompanying family members, gathered for
friendly competitions in sports such as swimming, X-Fit and rifle shooting, and
met with international experts on post-trauma and rehabilitation.
“Looking
around this room, I see true heroes who answered their country’s call and went
to war to preserve our values and protect us all. I salute you,” Israeli
President Reuven Rivlin said to the veterans during a visit to his official
residence in Jerusalem on May 30.
The
Veteran Games – under the motto “Uniting extraordinary people” — was organized
by Beit Halochem UK and the Embassy of Israel in London following on a
successful Israeli-British conference on post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
and mental health in combat veterans, which featured a visit to Beit Halochem
in Tel Aviv.
Warrant
Officer Matt Tomlinson of the Royal Marines told Rivlin: “The Veteran Games are
a rare opportunity to visit your wonderful country and at the same time
challenge, compete and find common ground with Israeli veterans. … During the
competition, we shared sweat, pain and more pain, neither side giving up but
both sides encouraging and supporting the other. Thank you for allowing us to
come to your country, to compete and to share common ground with your veterans.
We will never forget this truly amazing experience.”
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