Paralympics Now Open to Disabled Vets

Disabled veteran athletes can now become eligible to compete in some of the nation's premiere athletic venues due to an agreement between the United States Olympic Committee (USOC) and the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). Under the terms of the agreement signed last week, participants in VA's National Veterans Wheelchair Games and the National Disabled Veterans Winter Sports Clinic will now be able to qualify for positions on the prestigious U.S. Paralympic Team and the U.S. Paralympic National Teams. The agreement means the department's marquee sporting events for disabled veterans can now serve as a pipeline in providing competitors for American Paralympic teams engaged in national and international competition. For more information, please contact Richard Olague, Public Affairs Specialist, VA Public Affairs, at 202-273-6000, Darryl Seibel, Chief Communications Officer (719) 866-4531 or Beth Bourgeois, Communications Manager, U.S. Paralympics (719) 866-2039.