The 37th National Veterans Wheelchair Games, featuring nearly 600 wheelchair athletes, is taking place in Cincinnati July 17 to 22.

Presented by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and Paralyzed Veterans of America, the event features competitions in 18 events: air guns, archery, basketball, boccia, bowling, field, handcycling, a motorized wheelchair rally, nine ball, power soccer, quad rugby, slalom, softball, swimming, table tennis, track, trapshooting and weightlifting.

The participants are all military veteran athletes from across the United States, as well as from Puerto Rico and Great Britain, who use wheelchairs for mobility.

The first, second, and third-place winners in each event receive either a gold, silver, or bronze medal, respectively.

“The Wheelchair Games is a great example of some of the finest athletes on the planet displaying true skill and determination,” says Dr David J. Shulkin, Secretary of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), in a media release. “These Veterans have overcome significant injuries and through intense rehabilitation and training, they have pushed themselves to the limit of athletic ability and competition.”

“The National Veterans Wheelchair Games is the most anticipated week of the year for so many Paralyzed Veterans members,” states David Zurfluh, national president of Paralyzed Veterans of America, per the release. “The athleticism and community the games offer Veterans with spinal cord injury or disease is a crucial component to their ongoing rehabilitation, and we’re proud to partner with the Department of Veterans Affairs each year to present them.”

[Source(s): Department of Veterans Affairs, PR Newswire]