Contact:
Matt Smith
Edelman
312-297-7021
[email protected]
Cmdr. Erik Wells
DoD Warrior Games Public Affairs Officer
304-395-3745
[email protected]
2017 DoD Warrior Games Come to Chicago
Kelly Clarkson, Blake Shelton perform at opening ceremony concert with Jon Stewart as official host
CHICAGO (June 6, 2017) – The Department of Defense Warrior Games are pleased to announce that the
Warrior Games kick off in Chicago this summer. The event will mark the beginning of the 2017 Warrior
Games, a Paralympic-style competition for wounded, ill and injured service members and veterans from
June 30 - July 8.
Approximately 265 wounded, ill and injured service members and veterans representing teams from the
Army, Marine Corps, Navy, Air Force, Coast Guard and U.S. Special Operations Command (SOCOM), as
well as the United Kingdom Armed Forces and the Australian Defence Force will participate in the
competition. Athletes will participate in eight adaptive sports: archery, cycling, field, shooting, sitting
volleyball, swimming, track and wheelchair basketball.
Must-see events:
 Full concert will feature Grammy Award-winning artists Blake Shelton and Kelly Clarkson with
60-minute performances each as well as Jon Stewart as the master of ceremonies.
 All are welcome to an action-packed day at United Center on July 7 featuring the Sitting
Volleyball and Wheelchair Basketball Medal Games as well as a Celebrity Wheelchair Basketball
Exhibition Game. ESPN will be broadcasting live.
 Check out the full schedule for events taking place http://www.dodwarriorgames.com/schedule
“The men and women that serve and protect this country on a daily basis allow the rest of us the
freedoms we enjoy,” said Shelton. “I’m proud to be part of this event and root these heroes on to
victory at this year’s Warrior Games.”
“I can’t wait to perform this year at the Warrior Games! Any time we can all be a part of something that
lifts up and shines a light on all of these heroes that are participating is an amazing moment! We need
more of these moments!” said Clarkson. “These men and women have put their lives on the line for us
and have overcome so much in the process of doing that! It will be a tremendous honor to perform for
them and their families who have sacrificed so much!”
“Last year the Warrior Games were so impactful that I couldn’t wait to participate again as the master of
ceremonies for the 2017 Games,” said Jon Stewart. “This is a can’t-miss event for Chicago; join me in
celebrating our nation’s service members.”
“Warrior Games showcase the resilience and triumph of these athletes after overcoming significant
injuries and illnesses,” said U.S. Navy Captain Brent Breining, director of the 2017 DoD Warrior Games.
“Having artists like Blake and Kelly perform at our opening ceremony concert demonstrates their
support and gratitude for our military service men and women, and encourages people to get out and
show their support for these heroes.”
Tickets for the DoD Warrior Games opening ceremony concert and July 7 events at United Center will be
available online through Ticketmaster. Tickets for the opening ceremony concert and exhibition game
are on sale to the general public starting on Tuesday, June 6 at 10 a.m. EST.
About the DoD Warrior Games
The DoD Warrior Games was begun in 2010 as an annual event allowing wounded, ill and injured service
members to enhance their recovery and rehabilitation through participation in adaptive sports.
The U.S. Navy is co-hosting the 2017 DoD Warrior Games with the City of Chicago. This is the first time
that the Games will be held outside of a military installation or U.S. Olympic Training Center. The Games
are open to the public and will be held at a variety of prominent locations throughout the downtown
area of Chicago, including the McCormick Place, United Center and Soldier Field, with most venues free
to the public.
For more information about the 2017 DoD Warrior Games, visit dodwarriorgames.com.
About Blake Shelton
Country Music Association’s 2012 “Entertainer of the Year,” five-time Male Vocalist of the Year winner
and GRAMMY nominee Blake Shelton continues to add to his superstar status. His most recent album, If
I’m Honest, debuted at #1 on the Billboard Top Album Sales Chart and the Billboard Country Album
Chart, and is the best-selling country album release of 2016. His current Top 10 single “Every Time I Hear
That Song” follows two #1 smash hits, “Came Here To Forget” and “A Guy With A Girl,” the latter of
which became his 23rd chart-topping song. The album features three songs written by Shelton, including
the gospel tinged “Savior’s Shadow,” “Friends,” which is also featured in the #1 film, The Angry Birds
Movie, and “Go Ahead and Break My Heart,” a song he wrote and performs with Gwen Stefani.
A member of the Grand Ole Opry, he has earned a host of awards throughout his career, which most
recently include Favorite Country Male Artist at the American Music Awards as well as the first-ever
Male Artist of the Year. In 2017 he became the first country artist to win Favorite Album at the People’s
Choice Awards in addition to his win for Favorite Male Country Artist. He was just nominated for a pair
of Billboard Music Awards for Top Country Artist and Top Country Album and a CMT Music Award for
Male Video of the Year. As a coach for the Emmy Award-winning television show, The Voice, Shelton is
the reigning and five-time champion, most recently with his contestant Sundance Head. He recently
wrapped his headlining 2017 “Doing It To Country Songs” Tour.
For more information and upcoming tour dates, please visit www.BlakeShelton.com and follow
@BlakeShelton.
About Kelly Clarkson
Grammy Award winner Kelly Clarkson has released six studio albums (Thankful, Breakaway, My
December, All I Ever Wanted, Stronger, Piece by Piece), one greatest hits album, and one holiday album;
has sold over twenty-one million albums worldwide; and has had ten singles in the top ten on the
Billboard Hot 100 singles chart. She is the recipient of three Grammy Awards, four American Music
Awards, three MTV Video Music Awards, two Academy of Country Music Awards, and one CMA Award.
Clarkson’s sixth studio album, Piece by Piece, debuted at number one on Billboard’s Top 200 chart,
marking her third number-one debut on the chart. Piece by Piece garnered two 2016 Grammy
nominations (Pop Vocal Album and Pop Solo Performance for her hit single “Heartbeat Song”).
Clarkson’s 2011 effort, Stronger, was certified platinum, won the Grammy for Best Pop Vocal Album,
and produced the smash singles “Mr. Know It All” and “Stronger (What Doesn’t Kill You),” which mark
Kelly’s ninth and 10th top ten hits. “Stronger (What Doesn’t Kill You)” was number one on Billboard’s
Hot 100 chart for two consecutive weeks (three weeks total), marking her third number one on the Hot
100 chart. In 2013, she released her very first Christmas album, Wrapped in Red, which debuted at
number three and was the biggest holiday album debut for a female artist since 2010 and is certified
platinum.
She recently became a New York Times Top 10 bestselling author with the release of her first children’s
book, River Rose and the Magical Lullaby. Clarkson is currently in the studio working on her highlyanticipated new album, her first for Atlantic Records, which will be released later this year. The album
will draw from the inspiration of Soul and R&B as the foundation to her endearing lyrics and
powerhouse vocals.