Invictus Games

For the Hungarian video game company, see Invictus Games (company).

Invictus Games

Motto	I AM
First event	2014
Headquarters	London, United Kingdom
Website	invictusgames.org

Medals from London 2014

The Invictus Games are an international Paralympic-style^[1] multi-sport event, created by Prince Harry, in which wounded, injured or sick armed services personnel and their associated veterans take part in sports including Wheelchair basketball, Sitting volleyball and Indoor rowing.^[1] Named after Invictus, the Latin for "Unconquered, Undefeated" the event was inspired by the Warrior Games, a similar event held in the United States. The first Invictus Games took place in 2014 at the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park in London, United Kingdom.

The opening ceremony was attended by Prime Minister David Cameron, Prince Harry, Prince William, Prince Charles and Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall. The event also included a recorded message from American First Lady Michelle Obama.^[2]

The second edition of the games is planned for 2016 at the ESPN Wide World of Sports at Walt Disney World, near Orlando, Florida, USA. The 2017 games will be held in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.^[3]

Launch

The Games were launched on 6 March 2014 by Prince Harry at London's Copper Box arena, used as a venue during the 2012 Olympics. Having seen a British team competing at the US Warrior Games held in Colorado in 2013, the prince wished to bring the concept of a similar international sporting event to the United Kingdom.^[4]^[5]^[6]^[7] With the backing of Mayor of London Boris Johnson, the London Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games and the Ministry of Defence, the event was put together over ten months.^[1]^[8] £1m of funding for the project was provided by the Royal Foundation, a charity established by Prince Harry along with the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, with an equal amount being pledged by Chancellor George Osborne from Treasury funds generated by fines imposed on banks as a result of the Libor scandal.^[1]^[9] The Games were also sponsored by Jaguar Land Rover.^[7] Speaking at the launch, the prince said that the Games would "demonstrate the power of sport to inspire recovery, support rehabilitation and demonstrate life beyond disability".^[10] He also said that their long-term objective was to ensure injured troops are not forgotten as Britain's involvement as the War in Afghanistan comes to an end.^[1]^[11]

2014 Invictus Games

Four runners from Germany, the United Kingdom and the United States during a 100 metre qualifying heat at the 2014 Invictus Games

Three American defenders knock the ball away from an Australian player during a wheelchair rugby pool match between the United States and Australia at the 2014 Invictus Games

The first Invictus Games were held on 10–14 September 2014.^[1]^[7]^[12]^[13] Around 300 competitors from 13 countries which have fought alongside the United Kingdom in recent military campaigns participated. These included the United States, Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Denmark, New Zealand and Afghanistan. Competitive events were held at many of the venues used during the 2012 Olympics, including the Copper Box and the Lee Valley Athletics Centre. The Games were broadcast by the BBC.^[1]^[14]

Organising committee

President: HRH Prince Harry KCVO
Chairman: Sir Keith Mills GBE (former deputy chairman of the London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games)
Lieutenant General Andrew Gregory CB (represents Defence on the Invictus Games Board)
General Sir Nick Parker KCB CBE (was in charge with organising the military support provided by the Armed Forces during the London 2012 Games)
Sara Donaldson OBE (was chief operating officer of the Production Company for the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Opening and Closing Ceremonies)
Edward Lane Fox (private secretary of HRH Prince Harry)
Debbie Jevans CBE (formerly Director of Sport for the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games)
Terry Miller OBE (was general counsel for the London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games)
Guy Monson (trustee of The Royal Foundation of The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and Prince Harry)
Roger Mosey (was the BBC's Director of London 2012 Olympic Games coverage and former BBC editorial director)
Mary Reilly (was also on the Board of the London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games)
Chris Townsend OBE (was Commercial Director for the London Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games)
Sir Nathan Murray (was in charge of organising the arenas for the games to take place)

Invited countries

14 countries were invited to the 2014 games, 8 from Europe, 2 from Asia, 2 from North America and 2 from Oceania. No countries from Africa were invited. There were teams from all the invited countries, except Iraq, competing in the games.

Sporting events

Athletics (aka track & field), Archery, Indoor rowing, Powerlifting, Road cycling, Sitting volleyball, Swimming, Wheelchair basketball and Wheelchair rugby. The presenting partner Jaguar Land Rover also organised a driving challenge.^[15]

2014 closing concert

The closing concert was broadcast on BBC Two hosted by Clare Balding and Greg James.^[16] The concert was hosted by Nick Grimshaw and Fearne Cotton with live performances came from Foo Fighters, James Blunt, Rizzle Kicks, Bryan Adams and Ellie Goulding.^[17]^[18]^[19]

Venues

The following venues were used for Invictus 2014:

Invictus Games Foundation

The Invictus Games Foundation is created as legacy of the first-ever Invictus Games. It governs the process of the future Games. The bidding process for future games started in Nov.2014.^[20]

Governance

The people who Govern the Foundation are:^[21]

Patron: HRH Prince Harry KCVO
Chairman: Sir Keith Mills GBE

Trustees

Dave Henson (British Team Captain of the 2014 Invictus Games)
Debbie Jevans CBE (formerly Director of Sport for the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games; Organising committee member Invictus Games 2014)
Edward Lane Fox(Private Secretary of Prince Harry)
Terry Miller(general counsel for the London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games; Organising committee member Invictus Games 2014)
Guy Monson (Trustees, The Royal Foundation of The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and Prince Harry)
Mary Reilly ( also on the Board of the London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games, organising committee member of Invictus Games 2014)

Staff:

Managing Director: Dominic Reid OBE (was responsible for the operational delivery of the Invictus Games London 2014)
Operations Manager: Rose Hall (organising team for the Invictus Games London 2014.)

Ambassador

Lewis Hamilton appointed as first ambassador.^[22]

Hamilton visited Tedworth House, before the announcement ^[23]
July 3, 2015, Lewis invited some Invictus Games athletes to British Grand Prix.^[24]

2016 Invictus Games

On July 14, 2015, Prince Harry, Patron of Invictus Games Foundation, announced the 2016 Invictus Games will take place from 8–12 May 2016 at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex in Orlando, Florida.^[25]

On October 28, 2015, Prince Harry and USA's First Lady Michelle Obama and Second Lady Jill Biden, launched Invictus Games 2016 at Fort Belvoir.^[26]