Founded in 1981 to help paralyzed and disabled veterans improve their health and well-being, the National Veterans Wheelchair Games is celebrating its 40th anniversary August 7-14 in New York City.

The Wheelchair Games are co-presented each year by Paralyzed Veterans of America and the Department of Veterans Affairs and is the largest annual rehabilitation wheelchair sports event solely designed for military veterans.

The event aims to empower veterans with spinal cord injuries, neurological conditions, and amputations with 20 events in 7 days, according to a media release.

“Every year, our members look forward to this event for the competition and camaraderie. For many of them, the Wheelchair Games is a turning point, when they go from being housebound to being active and involved in their communities. Meanwhile, many athletes return to not only compete but also to mentor newly injured veterans – these are just a few of the many reasons the Wheelchair Games are so special.”

— Jennifer Purser, Senior Associate Director of PVA Sports, Paralyzed Veterans of America

Veterans pose for a team photo after winning the gold medal in power soccer in New York City on August 8, 2021, at the National Veterans Wheelchair Games. The event is co-presented by Paralyzed Veterans of American and the Department of Veterans Affairs. (Photo courtesy of Paralyzed Veterans of America/Keith Mellnick)

Adaptive Sports

Veterans from across the country are actively competing in 20 adaptive sports, including wheelchair basketball, swimming, cycling, powerlifting, power soccer, and more, both in-person and from home. Longtime partners PVA and VA provide disabled veterans with specialized health care and recreational opportunities, like the Wheelchair Games, to help them thrive and lead full, independent lives.

“We use the Wheelchair Games to inspire our veterans to challenge themselves, be active and stay healthy, both mentally and physically. Veterans are introduced to adaptive sports to regain strength and boost confidence while they’re in rehab at VA hospitals.”

— David Tostenrude, VA Director of the National Veterans Wheelchair Games

Sports Highlights

Among the many highlights at this year’s Wheelchair Games is disc golf, which was newly added to the sports lineup. Other 2021 high points include wheelchair basketball, which will play at Rucker Park in Harlem, and powerlifting, which will take place at the top of Rockefeller Center.

Event sponsors include: First Nation Group, UPS, VCS, Nike, Invacare, Weis Markets, Deloitte, Penske Truck Leasing, Bristol Myers Squibb, TriWest, Leidos, NMEDA, Permobil, Sunrise Medical, Genentech, Windstream, Comcast NBCUniversal, Cigna, Tishman Speyer, American Airlines, EquipSystems, 4imprint, and Xerox.

[Source(s): Paralyzed Veterans of America, US Department of Veterans Affairs; PR Newswire]


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