Noteboom The Law Firm

VA Awards Grant To Improve Sporting Events For Disabled Veterans

February 22, 2011 - It is almost spring which means a lot of people are looking forward to warmer temperatures and summer sports. The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) plans on expanding the sports programs for disabled veterans this year . The VA recently granted the U.S. Olympic Committee $7.5 million to improve both recreational and competitive sporting events for disabled soldiers and veterans.

Enhanced therapeutic competitive events will not only help veterans, they will help whole communities. Veterans and soldiers generally become disabled while in the best shape of their lives, which tends to also cause emotional damage
along with the physical trauma. According to VA Secretary Eric Shinseki, the two grants heading for the U.S. Olympic Committee will help those veterans and soldiers by keeping them involved in physical activity by way of therapeutic and
adaptive sporting events held in their local communities. These events feed not only their desire to stay in shape as much as possible, it feeds the competitive spirit found in many soldiers and veterans.

It has been shown that sports and differing levels of physical activity have incredibly positive effects on people with disabilities. These grants will help to provide even more programs with greater access to those sports programs. Therapeutic and adaptive sports programs have made huge differences in the lives of disabled veterans and soldiers and now more community-based sports programs can offer even greater help.