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The English city of Birmingham has been awarded hosting rights for the 2027 edition of the Invictus Games, with the event to take place at the National Exhibition Centre (NEC).
Birmingham was selected ahead of a proposal from Washington DC, after initial interest from six cities. The Games will take place in July 2027.
The Games are contested by wounded, injured and sick servicemen and women, and the event in Birmingham will be the eighth edition.
In selecting Birmingham, the Invictus Games Foundation highlighted the venue choice of the NEC, the “innovative” new sports, and the demonstration by the bidding team of its commitment to the welfare and recovery of the service personnel and veterans. Pickleball and laser run will be among the new sports contested.
The NEC is located near the Queen Elizabeth Hospital, which receives and treats wounded, injured and sick service personnel and veterans; the Royal College of Defence Medicine, which trains UK clinicians; and the Defence Medical Rehabilitation Centre, a military rehabilitation site.
Lord Charles Allen, chair of the Invictus Games Foundation, said: “The Trustees were very taken by the depth of passion in the bidding team, the experience they brought to the planning and preparations and to the concept of the NEC as a one-site Games.
“Our thanks go to the team behind the Washington DC bid who were able to demonstrate the city could be a fantastic location for the future. As the Foundation looks to the next 10 years, we’re excited about the Games pipeline we are building, and for the next 10 years of Invictus.”
The Games were founded by Prince Harry, the Duke of Sussex, who serves as a patron of the Invictus Games Foundation. He said: “Over the years, we’ve seen each city bring a unique spirit and vision to life for competitors, their families, and spectators.
“We have no doubt the people of Birmingham will join in celebrating the unwavering respect and admiration we have for our veteran and service community, showing the world how their courage ignites hope and unites us all – something your city knows well.”
The next edition of the Games will take place in February in Vancouver and Whistler in Canada, with the event to feature winter sports for the first time. The most recent edition took place in the German city of Düsseldorf last year.
Birmingham also hosted the 2022 Commonwealth Games and will stage the 2026 edition of the European Athletics Championships. The Invictus Games have not been held in the UK since London staged the inaugural edition in 2014.
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