More than 500 athletes from across the country arrived in Minnesota to compete in the 2025 National Veterans Wheelchair Games over the next week.
The athletes will compete in 22 events says co-director of the games, Dave Tostenrude.
"We're using adaptive sports as a rehabilitation opportunity," he says.
But the games are much more than just the competition according to co-director Jen Purser.
"You're seeing a support system built that they can carry on, not just here but also outside of the games," Purser explained. "And it trickles up to their families and their families are building support systems."
Many of these athletes have never competed in organized sports.
"With all the novice athletes, we make sure that we are informing them with everything they need," Purser says. "We have a novice athlete meeting and of course, we're always readily available. So, yeah, like if you come here and you're like, this is intimidating, we make sure we have all the resources for you."
The 2025 National Veterans Wheelchair Games return to Minnesota after a 20-year absence. The event is co-presented by the Department of Veterans Affairs and Paralyzed Veterans of America.
It is the World's largest annual wheelchair sports and rehabilitation event solely for military veterans.
"It's a program where we use wheelchair sports, adaptive sports and fitness to help in the recovery, and rehabilitation of veterans living with spinal cord injuries, amputations, MS, and other physical disabilities," Tostenrude adds.
There are 41 athletes from Minnesota competing, and 537 overall. The 22 events will take place at various locations around the Twin Cities including the Minneapolis Convention Center, the University of Minnesota, Minneapolis' Lake Harriet and more.
The event began Thursday and run through July 22.