Athletes to meet with media and demonstrate skills July 17 at 9:30 a.m.
PHOENIX - Four Valley veterans, who are paralyzed, are on a quest for their own kind of Olympic gold and will compete in one of the world's premier events for disabled athletes later this month.
With support from the Phoenix Veterans Affairs (VA) Health Care System, they will attend the 28th National Veterans Wheelchair Games being held July 25 through 29. More than 500 athletes, all military veterans from across the United States, Puerto Rico and Great Britain, will convene in Omaha for the largest annual wheelchair sports event in the world.
The athletes will be available for interviews and to demonstrate some of their skills at the Carl T. Hayden VA Medical Center. Photos and video of them in action also are available. VA Therapists will also be present to discuss the benefits of physical fitness and recreation therapy.
July 17 at 9:30 a.m.
Community Living Center (formerly called Nursing Home) Dugout Room
Location: 7th Street Entrance north of the flag pole, look for NHCU sign
650 E. Indian School Road
The veterans, who also are patients of the Carl T. Hayden VA Medical Center, are:
Diane Brunswick, of Glendale/North Phoenix, who served with the U.S. Army from 1978-79. Hit by a car while serving in the military, she is a paraplegic who will be competing in the Games for the first time. Her event is air gun.
Dan Koston, of Phoenix, a veteran of the U.S. Navy, serving from 1975-79. Injured in a fall, he is a quadraplegic who is competing in his ninth Wheelchair Games and has a "wall of full of medals." He will compete in the motorized slalom competition, and also has competed in power soccer, billiards and air rifle events. Koston is on the board of directors of the Arizona chapter of the Paralyzed Veterans of America (PVA).
Diego Suazo, of Surprise, who served in the Navy from 1990-94. He competes in basketball, trap shooting, and softball. Shot at New Year's party, he is a paraplegic who also is competing in the Games for the first time this year.
John Tuzzolino, of Ahwatukee, who served in the Army from 1989-91. Injured in a motor-vehicle accident, he has won gold at the Games before. He will compete in shot put and weightlifting events. Tuzzolino was selected earlier this year to be one of a handful of veteran wheelchair champions to be featured on a special Cheerios box and is Sports Director of the Arizona chapter of the PVA.
The veterans also are receiving some financial support from the PVAHCS and the Veterans Medical Leadership Council to help them attend the Games through additional hours of volunteer service, earning well over the required number of points to qualify for assistance.
During the Games, gold, silver and bronze medals will be awarded in Olympic style to winning athletes. But all competitors already are reaping the therapeutic benefits from participating in wheelchair sports. These include building their physical skills and conditioning, camaraderie with other disabled veterans, pride and increased self confidence.
The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is a recognized leader in rehabilitation, and sports are important in the therapy used to treat many disabilities. For many injured veterans, the Wheelchair Games provide the first exposure to wheelchair athletics.
The Wheelchair Games, presented by the Department of Veterans Affairs and Paralyzed Veterans of America (PVA), are open to all U.S. military veterans who use wheelchairs because of spinal cord injuries, certain neurological conditions, amputations or other mobility impairments.
More about the National Veterans Wheelchair Games
The National Veterans 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. Veterans who will compete in Omaha have served from World War II to the present time, including veterans of Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom. The Games include 17 competitive events, such as quad rugby (murderball), slalom (a timed obstacle course), archery and basketball.
The National Veterans Wheelchair Games are an outgrowth of the Department of Veterans Affairs' historic involvement in wheelchair sports, which had their beginning in the aftermath of World War II, as young disabled veterans began playing wheelchair basketball in VA hospitals throughout the United States. Interest in wheelchair basketball soon spread to other sports such as track and field, bowling, swimming, and archery, spawning the formation of several associations devoted to new and innovative wheelchair sports. In 1980, the VA established a Recreation Therapy Service, using wheelchair athletics as one of their therapeutic tools for treating disabled veterans.
While past Games have produced a number of national and world-class Paralympians, they also provide opportunities for newly disabled veterans to gain sports skills and be exposed to other wheelchair athletes. Usually, one quarter of competitors have never before participated in any type of organized wheelchair sports competition.
The event is presented by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and the Paralyzed Veterans of America (PVA), with financial assistance from corporate, civic, and veterans service organizations. Event hosts are the VA Nebraska-Western Iowa Health Care System (VA NWIHCS) and the Great Plains Chapter of the Paralyzed Veterans of America.
Competitive events at the Wheelchair Games include swimming, table tennis, weightlifting, archery, air guns, basketball, nine-ball, softball, quad rugby, bowling, handcycling, 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.
For more information about the National Veterans Wheelchair Games, or to follow event results as they happen, visit the Games Web site at: http://www.wheelchairgames.org/.
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