The Department of Veterans Affairs and Paralyzed Veterans of America Recognize Comcast and NBCUniversal as a Premier Sponsor of 2014 National Veterans Wheelchair Games

The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and Paralyzed Veterans of America (Paralyzed Veterans) are proud to announce that Comcast and NBCUniversal will serve as a Premier Sponsor for the upcoming 34th National Veterans Wheelchair Games, which begin Tuesday, August 12 through Sunday, August 17 in Philadelphia. In addition to financial support, Comcast and NBCUniversal are also supporting the Games via a large media and promotional package that includes regional airtime, digital and mobile promotions, and usage of local on-air talent at various events and programs during the Games. The company is also assisting the Games through a large employee volunteer drive in and around Games events.

“We thank Comcast and NBCUniversal for their generous support of this important rehabilitative event for our disabled veterans, and we hope to continue this new partnership for years to come,” said Al Kovach, national president of Paralyzed Veterans of America. “The support of sponsors like Comcast and NBCUniversal is vital to putting on an event as large as these Games—without them it wouldn’t be possible.”

Comcast will also serve as one of the event host sponsors for the power soccer and track competitions.

“We are proud to again sponsor the National Veterans Wheelchair Games and to support these incredible heroes,” said Charisse R. Lillie, vice president of Community Investment for Comcast Corporation and president of the Comcast Foundation. “This event celebrates the accomplishments of those who served our nation and sacrificed so much. We applaud the achievements of these athletes.”

The National Veterans Wheelchair Games, presented annually by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and Paralyzed Veterans of America, are open to all U.S. military veterans who use wheelchairs for sports competition as a result of spinal cord injury, certain neurological conditions, amputations or other mobility impairments, and are focused on providing therapeutic, holistic treatments through adaptive sports. “These Games are empowering Veterans with disabilities to improve their lives through sports and recreation,” said Dave Tostenrude, Director of the National Veterans Wheelchair Games. “The athletes return home with the attitude and information of what they can do, versus, what they cannot.”

Veterans at the National Veterans Wheelchair Games will compete in 18 events: air guns, archery, basketball, boccia, bowling, field, handcycling, a motorized wheelchair rally, nine ball, power soccer, quad rugby, slalom, softball, swimming, table tennis, track, trapshooting and weightlifting. This year’s Wheelchair Games will also feature an exhibition of wheelchair lacrosse. Athletes compete in all events against others with similar athletic ability, competitive experience or age. For more information about the 34th National Veterans Wheelchair Games, please visit. www.pva.org/games.

About Paralyzed Veterans of America:

Paralyzed Veterans of America was founded by a group of seriously injured American heroes from the “Greatest Generation” of World War II. They created a nonprofit organization to meet the challenges that they faced back in the 1940s — from a medical community not ready to treat them to an inaccessible world — and they were the pioneers of wheelchair sports. For more than 68 years, Paralyzed Veterans’ national office and its 34 chapters across the nation have been making America a better place for all veterans and people with disabilities. (www.pva.org)

About the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Office of National Veterans Sports Programs & Special Events:

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Office of National Veterans Sports Programs & Special Events is the recognized world leader in rehabilitative and recreational therapies for disabled Veterans. VA promotes the rehabilitation of body and spirit by operating adaptive sports clinics and competitions around the nation. Learn more about VA's adaptive sports programs and partnerships at www.va.gov/adaptivesports.

About Comcast Corporation:

Comcast Corporation (Nasdaq: CMCSA, CMCSK) is a global media and technology company with two primary businesses, Comcast Cable and NBCUniversal. Comcast Cable is the nation's largest video, high-speed Internet and phone provider to residential customers under the XFINITY brand and also provides these services to businesses. NBCUniversal operates 30 news, entertainment and sports cable networks, the NBC and Telemundo broadcast networks, television production operations, television station groups, Universal Pictures and Universal Parks and Resorts. Visit www.comcastcorporation.com for more information.