Los Angeles marked a milestone on August 8, 2024, by dedicating Wheelchair Basketball Square at the busy intersection of Victory Boulevard and Balboa Boulevard. The ceremony, attended by Mayor Karen Bass and a delegation of Paralympic officials, honored the sport’s humble beginnings and its evolution into a global Paralympic staple.
A Legacy That Began in a Veterans’ Hospital
The square commemorates the first recorded wheelchair basketball match on November 25, 1946, at the Birmingham General Veterans Administration Hospital. There, a team of World War II veterans known as the "Birmingham Charioteers" demonstrated a new form of recreation that would later inspire the creation of the Paralympic Games.
Wheelchair basketball entered the Paralympic program at the inaugural Games in Rome in 1960, and since then the sport has grown into one of the most competitive and widely watched events. The United States has been the most successful nation, amassing ten gold medals in the men’s division and four in the women’s.
The upcoming LA28 Paralympic Games will showcase eight men’s and eight women’s teams competing at the DTLA Arena, underscoring Los Angeles’ role as a hub for the sport’s continued expansion. The city’s commitment to accessibility is further highlighted by plans to install a mural that celebrates both veteran pioneers and current athletes.
Mayor Bass announced a partnership with the National Wheelchair Basketball Association, Paralysed Veterans of America, and Muralism to bring the tribute to life. The collaboration will also support ongoing initiatives that promote inclusive design and provide pathways for aspiring Paralympians.
The event also featured appearances by Paris 2024 Paralympians Steve Serio and Jorge Salazar, alongside IPC Executive Director Colleen Wrenn and IWBF President Ulf Mehrens, who praised the city’s dedication to honoring the sport’s heritage while looking toward the future.