Richmond bid four times for the National Veterans Wheelchair Games before finally landing the event that will bring hundreds of athletes and their supporters to the area June 25 to 30 to compete in 17 sports events.
One problem with past bids: There weren't enough downtown hotel rooms that were completely wheelchair accessible, including having accessible bathrooms.
"Once the Hilton Garden was open, it gave us more rooms," said Alison Faulk, local chairperson for the games, which are expected to bring more than 600 veterans in wheelchairs and thousands of spectators and visitors to the Richmond area the week before the Fourth of July.
"A lot of people think, when you say someone's in a wheelchair, we're going to play checkers," Faulk said. The event, she said, "really gives a very clear view of a true athlete that's in a chair."
More than 1,000 downtown hotel rooms at the Marriott, Hilton Garden Inn, Omni and Crowne Plaza have been set aside for the event, said Faulk, who on Tuesday helped deliver red, heart-shaped Valentine's Day balloons to patients at McGuire Veterans Affairs Medical Center.
Gary Cowgar, a patient in the spinal cord injury services unit at the VA hospital, said he would be competing in the games for the first time this year. He lost use of his legs last year after developing a staph infection.
"I got MRSA, and it wound up in my spine," said Cowgar of Buckhannon, W.Va.
"I walked into the hospital thinking I had asthma."
He is planning to compete in the bowling, air gun, swimming and power chair soccer events, he said. He has a little feeling in his legs, but not much.
Practice for the events takes place "whenever the girls get a chance to get me up," he said.
"I have to do something, so I might as well figure out what I can do," he said.
Faulk said about 3,000 volunteers are needed to help with the weeklong games, expected to pump about $3 million into the local economy. Volunteers can be as young as 14 years old if they are part of a supervised group such as the Boy Scouts, she said.
Most of the competitive events will take place at the Greater Richmond Convention Center. But other venues around the area will also be used.
The swimming events will take place at the Greater Richmond Aquatic Partnership pool complex in Chesterfield County. Softball will be in the Green Lot beside the Diamond. Trapshooting will be at Conservation Park of Virginia in Charles City. Bowling will be at Hanover Lanes. The motorized rally competition will be at Byrd Park, and a handcycling 10K will be on downtown streets.
All events will be free to spectators, and bus shuttle service will be available.
National Veterans Wheelchair Games
What: More than 600 veterans with disabilities compete in athletic events: air guns, track and field, quad rugby, weightlifting, archery, motorized wheelchair rally, softball, slalom, basketball, bowling, nine-ball pool, swimming, handcycling, power soccer, table tennis, trapshooting. Hosted by McGuire Veterans Affairs Medical Center, presented by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and the Paralyzed Veterans of America, with corporate support.
When: June 25 to 30
Where: Greater Richmond Convention Center and other venues around Richmond
Cost: Free for spectators. Bus shuttles to venues.
Information: www.richmond.va.gov/nvwg; www.pva.org/nvwg
To volunteer: (804) 675-5135; or fill out application online
Veterans who want to compete: (804) 675-5208
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