National Veterans Wheelchair Games

The Wheelchair Games is a multi-event sports and rehabilitation program for military service veterans who use wheelchairs for sports competition due to spinal cord injuries, amputations or certain neurological problems. Attracting more than 500 athletes each year, the National Veterans Wheelchair Games is the largest annual wheelchair sports event in the world!

Scheduled for July 13-18, 2009, this year’s Wheelchair Games will take place in Spokane, WA. Events will take place at the Spokane Veterans Memorial Arena, Spokane Convention Center, Lilac Valley and North Bowl facilities, Whitworth University pool, Spokane Valley Gun Club, Spokane Falls Community College and Riverfront Park.

The presenters of this event are committed to improving the quality of life for veterans with disabilities and fostering better health through sports competition. While past Games have produced a number of national and world-class champions, the Games also provide opportunities for newly disabled veterans to gain sports skills and be exposed to other wheelchair athletes. Usually, one quarter of the competitors have never before participated in any type of organized wheelchair sports competition.

Competitive events at the National Veterans Wheelchair Games include swimming, table tennis, weightlifting, archery, air guns, basketball, nine-ball, softball, quad rugby, bowling, handcycling, trapshooting, wheelchair slalom, power soccer, a motorized wheelchair rally, track and field. Exhibition events are also being planned. Athletes compete in all events against others with similar athletic ability, competitive experience or age.