FIGHTERS WHOSE WILL IS STRONGER THAN THEIR BODIES

Mission

The Invictus Games are designed to foster recovery through adaptive sports and community among veterans and service members who have been injured, wounded, or got sick during or as a result of their military service in combat zones.

Our goal is to promote the development and popularization of adaptive sports as an effective tool of recovery and reintegration among wounded Ukrainian defenders, as well as to encourage Ukrainian society and the state to create the necessary conditions for this.
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Invictus Games: Team Ukraine supports Ukrainian service members and veterans on their journey of physical and psychological recovery by shaping a positive outlook and motivating them to engage in adaptive sports within the Invictus community. 

We believe that action is much more productive than sympathy. For over 10 years, we have been building a community that brings together people with similar experiences and helps them overcome the consequences of injuries, wounds, and illness with the support of their families, peers, and society.

values

Recognition. We believe that the support of fellow brothers and sisters in arms, families, friends, and society is the foundation for successful recovery after injury. We also believe that recognising the contribution of Ukraine’s defenders is essential not only in acknowledgement of their service and sacrifice, but also of their contribution to security and freedom in the wider world.

Empowerment. We believe that service members and veterans should have access to dignified opportunities for recovery and reintegration into civilian life, regardless of the type or severity of their injury. That is why we provide tools and opportunities for post-traumatic growth.

Commitment. We support warriors in their desire to achieve new goals and encourage society to support Ukrainian soldiers on their journey of recovery and reintegration.

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Respect. We respect the experiences of our competitors and are committed to building a community grounded on respect for each individual’s journey and mutual understanding.

Courage.Courage begins long before a warrior joins their first battle. It begins with the conscious and responsible choice to step forward and defend others. Inspired by the unconquered spirit of our competitors, we are committed to stepping beyond the familiar and facing the future with courage and confidence.

Teamwork. We believe in the power of the people around us and in creating a space where everyone can be themselves, feel understood without having to explain, and find support in the company of their fellow service members and veterans.

History

Invictus, Latin for “unconquered,” embodies the spirit of the men and women who have been wounded, injured or got sick while defending their country. They are living proof that self-belief, resilience and the support of those closest to us can transcend even the most challenging obstacles.

Behind every service member and veteran lies a story of war, return, recovery and transformation. The path towards a meaningful and fulfilling life after injury is rarely one travelled alone; it also calls for the support of a community, a renewed sense of purpose, and opportunities to grow and redefine what lies ahead.

It was through witnessing the profound impact of adaptive sport — not only on physical and psychological recovery, but also on the restoration of confidence, purpose and a sense of belonging — that Prince Harry founded the Invictus Games. The Games have since evolved into an international space of support for wounded, injured and sick military personnel and veterans, demonstrating the transformative potential of adaptive sport as a powerful catalyst for recovery, rehabilitation and social reintegration.

What follows is a journey through the key milestones in the evolution of the Invictus Games and the initiatives that have helped shape and strengthen this community — in Ukraine and across the world.
Timeline
2027
The eighth Invictus Games (and sixth for Ukraine) will take place on July 10-17, 2027, in Birmingham, United Kingdom.
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2025
The seventh Invictus Games (and fifth for Ukraine) took place on February 8-16, 2025, in Vancouver and Whistler, Canada.
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2023
The sixth Invictus Games took place in 2023 in Düsseldorf, Germany.
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Timeline
2020
In May 2020, the international Invictus Games were to take place in The Hague, but due to COVID-19, they were postponed to 2022.
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Timeline
2018
In 2018, Australia became the fourth country to host the Invictus Games. Participants from 18 countries, including Ukraine, came to the “upside-down” Games and competed in 11 adaptive sports.
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Timeline
2017
The third Games in Toronto, Canada, held in September 2017, became the largest competition in the history of the Invictus Games, and were remembered throughout Ukraine as the first performance of our national team.
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2016
The second Games were held two years later, in May 2016, in Orlando, Florida, USA, with a total of 500 participants from 15 countries.
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Timeline
2014 – 2013
In 2013, Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, visited the Warrior Games in the USA and saw the important role that adaptive sport can play in the recovery of wounded and injured service members and veterans. In 2014, the Invictus Games Foundation, founded by Prince Harry, held the first Invictus Games in London, with 400 competitors from 13 countries participating.
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