VETERANS JOIN FORCES

BY CAPT JOHN CVANCARA

Earlier this year I was very honoured to be part of a delegation of over 60 British military veterans and reservists — many suffering serious injuries following campaigns in Afghanistan, Iraq and Northern Ireland — to go to Tel Aviv with their families and join Israeli counterparts for the inaugural Veterans Games and Mental Health Conference.

Th e A JEX contingent also included Major Bob Campbell and Under Officer Jamie Morris.

It was project over 100 soldiers from the UK and from the Israel Defence Force the chance to experience the kind of competitive sports seen at the Invictus Games. Taking place alongside the physical activities at the impressive Beit Halochem rehabilitation centres in Tel Aviv and Jerusalem was a three-day long conference featuring leading experts from both countries on treating injured or psychologically damaged soldiers.

T he Veteran Games were organised by Beit Halochem UK and the Embassy of Israel in London and took over one and a half years to plan.

T he project, which opened with a gala dinner in the grounds of Beit Halochem on Sunday evening for 350 people, was the result of over one and a half years work to get off the ground.

T he main thrust of the event was the games which were held at the rehab centres in Tel Aviv and Jerusalem. The main features were shooting, swimming and XFit individual and team events, as well as table tennis, archery, and wheelchair basketball. The sports facilities were brilliant, with Olympic standard swimming pools and large gym facilities. This was to be expected when you consider that this is where the Israeli Paralympic team train. The standard of the athletes was also exceptional, as many of the team had competed in Paralympics and Invictus games over the past few years, several of whom had set world records. The whole sporting event was based on the idea that “everyone takes part”, and the XFit team events had veterans of a range of disabilities in each group, and the teamwork was amazing.

T his was a wonderful opportunity to meet up with Veterans and families and compete against similar Veterans from the

Israeli Defence Force.

T he week began with us flying over from Heathrow to Tel Aviv, picnic lunch on the beach, followed by a BBQ opening ceremony.

T he Monday was the individual XFit competition, where the gym staff at Beit Halochem had organised a great 10 session event.

T he Tuesday was the shooting event, using the Olympic biathlon .22 rifle.

Wednesday was the team XFit event, which saw 5 teams of mixed personnel from the UK and Israel take part in 6 events, culminating in a tug o war competition.

T he Thursday saw us travel to Jerusalem, where we were fortunate enough to be invited to President Rivlins’ residence for a hosted breakfast and a personnel address.

“ I see true true heroes here who served their country’s cause and went to war to preserve our values and protect us all. I would like to say: I salute you. I’m proud and honoured to see our own IDF veterans who took part in the Games. I salute you too. You all returned from battle. But there were those – your comrades and friends – who did not. Let’s pay tribute to those who made the ultimate sacrifice.”

T he support for the week was amazing, and entire British delegation — which totalled 250, including the families of veterans and the doctors, academics and charity chiefs — to be put up in Tel Aviv’s five-star Carlton hotel.

D inners in the city’s port, in the Judean desert, and in the Arab village of Abu Gosh, along with visits to the Dead Sea, Yad Vashem, Jerusalem and the British military cemetery in Ramla, were also factored in.

T he Thursday evening saw us having a closing dinner in the Old City.

A ll in all a wonderful week, a fantastic experience, and the opportunity to make new friends from both Countries.

D efinitely looking forward to next year