Invictus Games are an international sports event. Current and former military personnel who are ill or have been injured compete in the event. The Games harness the power of sport to inspire recovery, support rehabilitation, and generate a wider understanding and respect for those who serve their country. Invictus is the Latin word for unconquered.
Each edition of the Invictus Games features nine core sports—archery, athletics (track and field), cycling, indoor rowing, powerlifting, sitting volleyball, swimming, wheelchair basketball, and wheelchair rugby. Other sports have included a driving challenge, table tennis, and wheelchair tennis. These sports use rules and categories developed by the Invictus Games Foundation that allow for maximum participation and the inclusion of invisible injuries.
The Invictus Games were established by Prince Harry, the Duke of Sussex, of the United Kingdom. He was inspired by a 2013 visit to the Warrior Games, an annual event for military personnel and veterans in the United States that began in 2010. The first Invictus Games were held in London in 2014. Since then, the games have been held in Orlando, Florida, in 2016; Toronto, Canada, in 2017; Sydney, Australia, in 2018; The Hague, the Netherlands, in 2022; and Düsseldorf, Germany, in 2023. The next Invictus Games are expected to be held in Vancouver, Canada, in 2025.
The Invictus Games Foundation is the governing body of the Invictus Games. It exists to ensure that the games continue to be held and that they follow the high standards set for them.
