Vancouver and Whistler in Canada have been awarded hosting rights to the 2025 edition of the Invictus Games multi-sport event, which for the first time will feature winter sports.
The Games are contested by wounded, injured and sick servicemen and women. Vancouver and Whistler were announced as the hosts of the 2025 event as this year’s edition concluded in The Hague, Netherlands on Friday.
It has also been announced that the 2025 Games will incorporate winter adaptive sports, in addition to some of the core sports from previous editions. The True Patriot Love Foundation will work with the Government of Canada, the Government of British Columbia and the First Nations in Vancouver and Whistler to deliver the event.
Over 500 competitors from 20 nations are expected to take part in the Games. The new winter sports will include alpine skiing, Nordic skiing, skeleton and wheelchair curling, which will all feature alongside core sports such as indoor rowing, sitting volleyball, swimming, wheelchair rugby and wheelchair basketball.
Vancouver and Whistler have been selected as the host cities by the Invictus Games Foundation following a “competitive” bid process. The Games organising committee will work to ensure they respond to Canada’s Truth & Reconciliation Commission Calls to Action and ensure Indigenous protocols are respected in all aspects of the event.
The Games are set to be held on the traditional territories of the Musqueam, Squamish, Tsleil-Waututh Nations, Skalulmecw L íl wat ̓ Nation and the G élpcal L ílwat Nation. Events will be held across Vancouver and Whistler.
Nick Booth, chief executive of the True Patriot Love Foundation, said: “True Patriot Love Foundation is thrilled Canada has been chosen to host the Invictus Games 2025. We are excited to bring this new, innovative concept of a hybrid winter games to Vancouver and Whistler, increasing access to the Invictus Games through the introduction of new snow and ice sports.
“We are proud of the partnership and trust that has been built with the First Nations communities and the federal, provincial and municipal governments, and look forward to delivering a Games in 2025 that has a lasting impact on the province of British Columbia, Canada’s military community, and competitors and their families from around the world.”
Prince Harry, The Duke of Sussex, who founded the Games, added: “As Invictus continues to adapt and evolve, I am extremely excited to announce that the Invictus Games Foundation has selected Canada to host the first-ever Winter Hybrid Games in 2025.
“The Invictus Games Vancouver-Whistler 2025 will offer a global platform to expand the range and profile of winter adaptive sports. With deep respect, I’m also pleased to share that the Games in Canada will be held in partnership with the First Nations, in the spirit of truth and reconciliation with Indigenous communities.”
The Invictus Games will head to Düsseldorf in Germany in 2023 before Canada plays host in 2025.
Image: Invictus Games
Share this