As the Invictus Games continue to grow and evolve, their legacy of hope and inspiration will endure for years to come

It matters not how strait the gate,

How charged with punishments the scroll,

I am the master of my fate,

I am the captain of my soul.

William Ernest Henley, "Invictus"

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As the Invictus Games finish this weekend in Canada, it’s yet again showed us the incredible and global power of sport. Catching only snippets of the competition, it is clear the significant impact these Games have on the competitors and their families – and watching these incredible individuals compete is inspiring. Each athlete brings their own unique story of resilience and determination, and their presence at the Invictus Games is a testament to their strength and courage.

The sacrifices these athletes have made are immense. The Invictus Games are not just about the competition; they are also about the journey and the personal growth that comes with it.  Many have faced life-altering injuries and illnesses, yet they have found the strength to push through, rebuild their lives and continue fighting. We hear how their journeys are marked by countless hours of gruelling rehabilitation, physical pain, and emotional challenges.

For many competiters, participating in these Games represents a turning point in their recovery. It is an opportunity to reclaim a sense of purpose and to prove to themselves and others that they are capable of achieving great things.  I heard some of these stories in 2016 when I visited the Lee Valley Sports Centre to meet some of the GB Team before they headed to Orlando for the second edition of the Games.

Their participation in the Invictus Games is a powerful reminder of the human spirit's capacity to overcome adversity. And the impact of the Invictus Games extends far beyond the athletes themselves. For their families, friends, and communities, seeing them compete and succeed in the Games is a source of immense pride and joy.  As the competitors will tell you, their journey from fighting for their country to competing for their country is a team effort and the event is a way to say thank you to their team for the hours, days, weeks and months of support they have had.

Supporting the first Invictus Games in 2014, which was part of the London 2012 legacy, was a special experience. The Games provide a platform for wounded, injured, and sick servicemen and women to showcase their abilities. The first Invictus Games utilised many of the venues from the London 2012 Olympics, including the Copper Box and the Lee Valley Athletics Centre and many of the superb London 2012 Games Makers volunteered their services again. Around 300 competitors from 13 countries participated in the Games. These countries had fought alongside the United Kingdom in recent military campaigns and included the United States, Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Denmark, New Zealand, and Afghanistan. The inaugural event in London was a resounding success, and it set the stage for future Games to continue this important legacy.

Ten years on, the Vancouver Whistler Invictus Games have bought together 23 Nations and over 500 competitors.  And they have achieved something neither the Olympic nor Paralympic Games have done – combined winter and summer sports over 10 days in two locations.

The Invictus Games fosters a sense of camaraderie and mutual respect, and they create a global community united by a shared commitment to resilience and recovery, not just at the time of the event itself but with many countries initiating legacy programmes to celebrate veterans, to create sports facilities and opportunities for their veterans and their families to stay connected and to continue their recovery journeys together.

Sport has the power to inspire and uplift. Watching the athletes compete at the Invictus Games is a reminder of what is possible when we push ourselves beyond our limits. Not only that, the Games challenge stereotypes and misconceptions about disability, promoting greater inclusion and accessibility in sports and other areas of life – in a similar way to the Paralympic Games.

As the Invictus Games continue to grow and evolve, their legacy of hope and inspiration will endure for years to come, and I know that the next edition of the Games in Birmingham in 2027 will once again light up the streets and venues of that great city in the same way we saw at the Birmingham Commonwealth Games in 2022.

Thank you to all the competitors and their wonderful families and to the Vancouver Organising Committee for a great 10 days of inspiring sport.  Also thank you to my many friends who tirelessly continue to promote and evolve the Games through the executive, the Invictus board and the Invictus Trustees.  You are an inspiration to us all.  Thank you.

If you would like to know more about the Invictus Games, this is a great 20min programme: