Invictus Games facts for kids
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| Motto | I AM |
|---|---|
| First event | 2014 |
| Headquarters | London, United Kingdom |
| Governance body | Founding patron: Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex Chairman: Lord Allen of Kensington Chief Executive: Rob Owen OBE Trustees: Melanie Richards Paddy Nicoll Karen Briggs JJ Chalmers Conny Wenting Jonathan Edwards Edward Lane Fox Nick Loughran |
The Invictus Games are a special international sports event. They are for military service members and veterans who have been wounded, injured, or become sick. The first games were held in 2014. The word 'Invictus' comes from Latin and means 'unconquered'. This name was chosen to show the strong spirit of these brave service people. It highlights what they can achieve after their injuries.
Prince Harry founded the Invictus Games. He was inspired after seeing the Warrior Games in the United States in 2013. He wanted to create a similar event in the United Kingdom. This event would help injured service members recover and show their amazing abilities.
About the Invictus Games
How the Games Started
Prince Harry officially launched the Invictus Games on March 6, 2014. The launch took place at the Copper Box arena in London. This arena was also used during the 2012 Olympics. Prince Harry saw how sport could help people heal and recover. He wanted to make sure that injured troops were not forgotten.
Many groups helped make the games happen. These included the Mayor of London, the Olympic and Paralympic Games committee, and the Ministry of Defence. Money for the games came from the Endeavour Fund, which Prince Harry created. Other funds came from the UK Treasury and sponsors like Jaguar Land Rover and Boeing.
Where the Games Have Been Held
The Invictus Games have been held in different cities around the world. Each event brings together wounded, injured, and sick service personnel. They compete in various sports.
| Edition | Year | City | Country | Venue | Nations | Opening ceremony | Closing ceremony |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2014 | London |  United Kingdom |
Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park | 14 | 10 September 2014 | 14 September 2014 |
| 2 | 2016 | Orlando |  United States |
ESPN Wide World of Sports | 15 | 8 May 2016 | 12 May 2016 |
| 3 | 2017 | Toronto |  Canada |
Air Canada Centre | 17 | 23 September 2017 | 30 September 2017 |
| 4 | 2018 | Sydney |  Australia |
Sydney Olympic Park | 18 | 20 October 2018 | 27 October 2018 |
| 5 | 2020 | The Hague |  Netherlands |
Sportcampus Zuiderpark | 17 | 16 April 2022 | 22 April 2022 |
| 6 | 2023 | Düsseldorf |  Germany |
Merkur Spiel-Arena | 21 | 9 September 2023 | 16 September 2023 |
| 7 | 2025 | Vancouver-Whistler | Canada |
Vancouver Convention Centre | 23 | 8 February 2025 | 16 February 2025 |
| 8 | 2027 | Birmingham | United Kingdom |
National Exhibition Centre |
Invictus Games Foundation
The Invictus Games Foundation owns the Invictus Games brand. It also chooses the cities that will host future games. This foundation makes sure the sports events are fair and well-managed.
Who Runs the Foundation
The foundation is led by important people:
- Patron: Prince Harry
- Chairman: Charles Allen, Baron Allen of Kensington
There are also several Trustees who help guide the foundation. The Chief Executive Officer is Rob Owen.
Famous Ambassadors
Lewis Hamilton, a seven-time Formula One World Champion, was the first ambassador for the Invictus Games. He has supported the athletes and helped promote the games.
History of the Games
2014 Invictus Games in London
The very first Invictus Games took place in London from September 10 to 14, 2014. About 300 athletes from 13 countries competed. Many events were held at the same venues used for the 2012 Olympics. The BBC broadcast the games.
The closing concert was a big event. It featured performances from famous music groups and artists.
2016 Invictus Games in Orlando
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Prince Harry announced that the 2016 Invictus Games would be in Orlando, Florida. They were held from May 8 to 12, 2016. Prince Harry, along with USA's First Lady Michelle Obama and Second Lady Jill Biden, helped launch the games.
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All 14 countries from the 2014 games were invited back. Jordan was also invited for the first time.
2017 Invictus Games in Toronto
Toronto, Canada, hosted the 2017 Invictus Games in September 2017. Toronto had previously hosted the Pan American and Parapan American Games. They planned to have more athletes, countries, and sports than before.
Unlike earlier games, the 2017 events took place at many different venues across Toronto. This included the Air Canada Centre for ceremonies and various sports centers for events like indoor rowing and wheelchair basketball. Romania and Ukraine joined the games this year.
2018 Invictus Games in Sydney
Sydney, Australia, was chosen to host the 2018 Invictus Games. The games took place in October 2018. The Royal Australian Mint even released a special coin with Braille text to celebrate the games.
After the Sydney games, an organization called Invictus Australia was created. Its goal is to keep supporting veterans and their families through sport in Australia. Poland was a new country invited to these games.
2020 Invictus Games in The Hague (Held in 2022)
The games were planned for May 2020 in The Hague, Netherlands. However, they were postponed twice due to the COVID-19 pandemic. They finally took place from April 16 to April 22, 2022.
A Netflix documentary series called Heart of Invictus was made about the athletes from the 2022 games. Prince Harry helped produce this series. The money from the documentary helps the Invictus Games Foundation.
2023 Invictus Games in Düsseldorf
The games for 2023 were held in Düsseldorf, Germany. They took place in September 2023 at the Merkur Spiel-Arena. These games were also postponed from their original 2022 date because of the earlier postponements.
2025 Invictus Games in Vancouver-Whistler
The 2025 games are taking place in Vancouver and Whistler, Canada, in February 2025. This is the first time the Invictus Games include winter adaptive sports. These sports include alpine skiing, Nordic skiing, skeleton, and wheelchair curling.
2027 Invictus Games in Birmingham
It was announced in July 2024 that Birmingham, United Kingdom, will host the 2027 Invictus Games. They will be held at the National Exhibition Centre. For the first time, the sport of pickleball is expected to be part of the Invictus Games.
See also
In Spanish: Invictus Games para niños
- Help for Heroes
- IWAS World Games
- Military sports
- Military World Games
- Paralympic Games
