To celebrate two years to go until the LA28 Paralympic Games and recognise the role Los Angeles played in the birth of wheelchair basketball, Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass unveiled “Wheelchair Basketball Square” on Saturday (8 August).
Located at the intersection of Victory Boulevard and Balboa Boulevard, Wheelchair Basketball Square highlights the site of the first ever wheelchair basketball game in the gymnasium at the former Birmingham General Veteran’s Administration Hospital in November 1946. This significant moment, in both Veterans and sports history, paved the way for wheelchair basketball, a sport that has been ever-present on the Paralympic sport programme since the first Games in Rome, Italy, in 1960. At the LA28 Paralympic Games, eight men’s and eight women’s teams will compete for gold in the sport at the DTLA Arena.
During Saturday’s event, in addition to revealing the new street sign for “Wheelchair Basketball Square”, a plaque was unveiled in the historic gym that hosted the first match, and an exhibition game of wheelchair basketball took place. Mayor Bass also announced she is working with the National Wheelchair Basketball Association, the Paralysed Veterans of America, and local disability-focused nonprofit Muralism to install a mural in honour of the incredible legacy of the veterans and athletes before us, and the impact they will continue to make in our future.
Paris 2024 champions Steve Serio (left) and Jorge Salazar (right) were among the Paralympians who attended the event. @City of Los Angeles
Speaking at the unveiling, Los Angeles Mayor Bass said: “A key component of my ‘Games for All’ vision is about ensuring that the Games are accessible and inclusive for all Angelenos. I’m proud that we are already delivering that – through art, through our infrastructure, and through sport. This building is a key example of honouring and uplifting the legacy of the incredible athletes before us to inspire and support the next generation of Paralympians.”
Also in attendance at Saturday’s event was Colleen Wrenn, the IPC’s Executive Director Paralympic Games. She said: “While we reflect on how this Los Angeles basketball court changed the world 80 years ago, let’s also imagine how Los Angeles can change the world again in 2028. And I challenge each of you to think about how you can contribute to that change – volunteer! Buy a ticket! Find your new favourite Para athlete to follow! And most importantly spread the word about the LA28 Paralympic Games and why they matter.”
Ulf Mehrens, IWBF, President said: “Los Angeles holds a unique place in the history of wheelchair basketball, with the sport’s origins tracing back to injured veterans who played at the former Birmingham General Veterans Administration Hospital, where Wheelchair Basketball Square will now stand.
“This recognition honours the pioneers who helped create the sport and the generations of players who have carried their legacy forward. As we mark two years to the LA28 Paralympic Games, the naming of Wheelchair Basketball Square is a fitting tribute to the sport’s roots in Los Angeles and a wonderful celebration of its enduring place in the city’s sporting heritage.”
An exhibition game took place to celebrate two yeasr to go until LA28 and recognise the role Los Angeles played in the birth of the sport. @LA28
On November 25, 1946, the site of Wheelchair Basketball Square – then the Birmingham Veterans Administration (VA) Hospital – hosted the first official wheelchair basketball game. The inaugural match featured the “Birmingham Charioteers” – one of the earliest organised wheelchair basketball teams composed of World War II veterans and VA patients with various degrees of paralysis. The veterans competed against the hospital’s medical staff and won the game 16-6. Since then, the sport of wheelchair basketball has evolved into a global phenomenon. By the late 1940s, organised leagues had formed, and in 1960, wheelchair basketball was featured in the inaugural Paralympic Games in Rome. Today, it is played in nearly 100 countries and remains one of the most highly anticipated and competitive events in the Paralympic Games, continually showcasing the speed, strategy, and elite athletic talent of athletes worldwide.
At the Paralympic Games, USA’s men’s team is the most successful team in history having won 10 gold medals. At Paris 2024, the side made history becoming the first to win gold at three successive Paralympic Games from Rio 2016 onwards. Women’s wheelchair basketball first featured at the Paralympic Games in 1968 and with four gold medals, the USA has proven to be the most successful nation. USA’s women last won gold at Rio 2016 and finished with silver at Paris 2024.