National Veterans Wheelchair Games

The National Veterans Wheelchair Games will be from Jun 24 – Jul 1, 2012 in Richmond Virginia. Participants must be a veteran of one of the U.S. military services, must be eligible for health care in the Department of Veterans Affairs Healthcare System, and have a disability that warrants the use of a wheelchair to compete in sporting events.

Participants include military service veterans who use wheelchairs for sports competition, who suffer from spinal cord injuries, amputees, and veterans suffering from other certain neurological problems. The games attract more than 500 athletes each year. Athletes have come from virtually every state in the nation and Puerto Rico. It is the largest annual wheelchair sports event in the world.

The first games originated in 1981 at the Hunter Homes McGuire Medical Center in Richmond Virginia. That year, 74 veterans from 14 states competed in sports ranging from table tennis and billiards, to swimming and weightlifting. Sponsors of the event are committed to improving the quality of life for veterans with disabilities, fostering better health through sports competition, providing opportunities for newly disabled veterans to gain sports skills and meet other wheelchair athletes.

The current games include events such as air guns, archery, basketball, bowling, field events, hand cycling, motorized wheelchair rally, nine-ball, power soccer, quad rugby, slalom, softball, swimming, table tennis, track, trapshooting and weightlifting. Athletes compete against others with similar athletic ability, competitive experience or age.

Admission to the games is free. There is no registration cost for participates and the public is welcome. The games will need close to 3,000 volunteers to assist with all aspects of the Games. Almost anyone can volunteer. You must be at least 14 years of age and willing to help athletes for at least four hours of one day. Volunteer opportunities include but are not limited to: registering and escorting athletes, setting up sites where events take place, timing and scoring events, assisting with athletic events, serving meals, transporting athletes to and from the games, and handing out water, towels and ice.

If your Lions Club, corporation, church, civic organization, city, county, school, sorority, fraternity or group is interested in serving as volunteers, please contact Lion Bob Pratt at (804) 777-9753, rpratt08@verizon.net, the Hunter Holmes McGuire Veterans Medical Center, telephone (804) 675-5135 or e-mail Janet.Langhorne@va.gov, or Janell.Giles@va.gov.