History of Invictus Games in Timeline

By Popular Timelines Editorial Team · Updated: July 16, 2026

The Invictus Games is an international multi-sport event for wounded, injured, and sick servicemen and women, both active duty and veterans. Founded by Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, in 2014, the games utilize the power of sport to inspire recovery, support rehabilitation, and generate a wider understanding of the sacrifices made by those who serve their countries. The competition features various adaptive sports, such as wheelchair basketball, sitting volleyball, and indoor rowing. By highlighting the resilience of competitors rather than their disabilities, the Invictus Games aim to redefine the journey of recovery. Beyond the physical competition, the event serves as a platform to address mental health challenges, foster camaraderie among international military communities, and honor the families and caregivers who support wounded veterans on their path to rehabilitation.

17 June 2025: Six Expressions of Interest for the 2029 Invictus Games

On 17 June 2025, the Invictus Games Foundation officially announced that it had received six formal expressions of interest from various parties wishing to host the 2029 Invictus Games.

2012: London 2012 Olympics

In 2012, London hosted the Olympic Games, which provided several athletic venues such as the Copper Box and the Lee Valley Athletics Centre that would later be repurposed for the first Invictus Games in 2014.

2012: Usage of Copper Box Arena

In 2012, the Copper Box arena served as a notable sports venue during the London Olympic Games, later hosting the launch of the Invictus Games in 2014.

2013: Inspiration from US Warrior Games

During 2013, Prince Harry observed a British team competing at the US Warrior Games in Colorado, which served as the inspiration for establishing an international sporting event in the UK.

2013: Prince Harry's Inspiration for the Invictus Games

In 2013, Prince Harry visited the Warrior Games in the United States, an experience that inspired him to found the Invictus Games after witnessing the transformative power of sport on the physical and psychological recovery of wounded service members.

March 2014: Launch of the Invictus Games

On March 2014, Prince Harry officially launched the inaugural Invictus Games at London's Copper Box arena to promote the recovery and rehabilitation of injured service personnel.

September 2014: The First Invictus Games

The inaugural Invictus Games took place in London between September 10 and 14, 2014, featuring approximately 300 wounded, injured, or sick service personnel from 13 different nations. The competition utilized various London-based venues from the 2012 Olympics and was televised for the public by the BBC.

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November 2014: Initiation of the Invictus Games Bidding Process

In November 2014, the official bidding process was initiated to determine the host cities for future editions of the Invictus Games, marking a significant step in the expansion of the sporting event.

2014: Expansion of Invictus Games Participation

In 2014, organizers extended invitations to all 14 nations that participated in the inaugural Invictus Games, while also welcoming Jordan as the sole new country to join the competition.

2014: Inaugural Invictus Games London

In 2014, the first Invictus Games were successfully held in London, serving as the foundational event that inspired the expansion of the games to the United States.

July 2015: Lewis Hamilton Invites Invictus Games Athletes to British Grand Prix

In July 2015, Formula One champion Lewis Hamilton hosted a group of Invictus Games athletes as his guests at the British Grand Prix, demonstrating his ongoing support for the event.

July 2015: Announcement of the 2016 Invictus Games

In July 2015, Prince Harry officially announced that the 2016 Invictus Games were scheduled to be held from 8–12 May 2016 at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex located in Orlando, Florida.

December 2015: Closing of 2018 Invictus Games Host Bids

In December 2015, the formal bidding process for cities interested in hosting the 2018 Invictus Games officially came to a close.

2015: Pan American and Parapan American Games

Toronto successfully hosted the Pan American and Parapan American Games in 2015, which served as foundational experience for the city's organizers to prepare for the 2017 Invictus Games.

May 2016: 2016 Invictus Games in Orlando

The 2016 Invictus Games took place between 8–12 May 2016 at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex in Orlando, Florida, serving as an international adaptive multi-sport event for wounded, injured, and sick servicemen and women.

November 2016: Sydney Selected as Host City

Sydney, Australia, was officially announced as the chosen host city for the 2018 Invictus Games in November 2016.

2016: Expansion of Invictus Games Participation

In 2016, the Invictus Games organizing committee extended invitations to all 15 nations that participated in the 2016 games, while also officially inviting Romania and Ukraine to join the competition for the first time.

2016: Invictus Games Orlando 2016

In 2016, the Invictus Games were brought to Orlando, Florida, following the establishment of Military Adaptive Sports Inc. (MASI) to facilitate the expansion, with Ken Fisher serving as the chairman and CEO.

September 2017: Toronto Invictus Games

In September 2017, Toronto hosted the Invictus Games as part of Canada's 150th anniversary, featuring an expanded roster of competitors, participating nations, and sports, including new ice-based events.

2017: 2017 Invictus Games Leadership and Mascot

In 2017, Michael Burns served as the Chief Executive Officer for the Invictus Games, while the Labrador named Vimy was officially appointed as the mascot for the event held in 2017.

2017: Expansion of Invictus Games Participation

In 2017, organizers confirmed that all 17 nations that participated in the 2017 Invictus Games would be invited to return, while simultaneously extending a new invitation to Poland to join the competition.

2018: Hosting of the 2018 Invictus Games

In 2018, the Invictus Games were held in Australia, utilizing infrastructure and facilities originally constructed for the 2018 Commonwealth Games.

2018: Boeing joins as sponsor

In 2018, the aerospace corporation Boeing was officially announced as a sponsor for the Invictus Games.

May 2020: Original Invictus Games The Hague Schedule

The Invictus Games were originally scheduled to take place from 9 to 16 May 2020 at the Zuiderpark Stadion in The Hague, Netherlands, before being disrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic.

2020: Postponement of the 2020 Invictus Games

In 2020, the Invictus Games scheduled for that year were officially postponed due to global circumstances, which subsequently triggered a chain reaction affecting the scheduling of future host cities.

April 2021: Announcement of Heart of Invictus Documentary

In April 2021, it was announced that a documentary series titled Heart of Invictus would be produced by Archewell in partnership with the Invictus Games and Netflix. The project, which features Prince Harry as an executive producer and on-screen participant, aims to fund the Invictus Games Foundation's support for wounded and injured service members.

2021: First Invictus Games Postponement

During 2021, the Invictus Games faced a delay as the event was postponed from its original 2020 window due to the ongoing global impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

April 2022: Rescheduled Invictus Games The Hague

Following previous pandemic-related delays, the Invictus Games were successfully held from 16 April to 22 April 2022 in The Hague, Netherlands.

April 2022: Announcement of Invictus Games 2025 Host Cities

On 22 April 2022, the Duke of Sussex officially announced that Vancouver and Whistler, Canada, were selected to host the 2025 Invictus Games. This successful bid was a collaborative effort between the True Patriot Love Foundation, the Canadian federal and provincial governments, and several local indigenous nations.

2022: Rescheduling of the Düsseldorf Games

Originally slated for 2022 at the Merkur Spiel-Arena in Germany, the Invictus Games were moved to a later date to accommodate the shift in the event calendar caused by previous postponements.

2022: Invictus Games Competition

The 2022 Invictus Games served as the focal point for the Heart of Invictus documentary series, highlighting the stories and journeys of the international wounded, injured, and sick service personnel and veterans competing in the event held in 2022.

2023: Boeing becomes presenting partner

In 2023, Boeing upgraded its involvement with the Invictus Games by becoming a presenting partner for the event.

2023: Scott Snow Injured at Invictus Games

In 2023, during the Invictus Games held in Düsseldorf, retired Canadian Armed Forces veteran Scott Snow sustained serious injuries while competing in a wheelchair rugby match.

2023: Invictus Games Düsseldorf 2023

The Invictus Games in Düsseldorf, Germany, were officially held in 2023 at the Merkur Spiel-Arena, following the necessary scheduling adjustments from previous years.

July 2024: Birmingham Selected as 2027 Invictus Games Host

In July 2024, officials announced that the city of Birmingham was chosen to host the 2027 Invictus Games, with the event scheduled to take place at the National Exhibition Centre.

2024: Financial Restructuring and Operational Shifts at the Invictus Games Foundation

In 2024, the foundation experienced significant financial changes, marked by a 63 percent reduction in direct veteran funding—dropping from £534,973 to £200,328—despite a 41 percent increase in total income. During this same period in 2024, the organization saw its cash reserves rise to £2.3 million, legal costs surge to £150,000, and the introduction of a high-salary executive role, sparking discussions regarding nonprofit compensation and financial allocation.

2025: Legal Action and Policy Change Regarding Veteran Insurance

In 2025, Scott Snow filed a $2.4 million lawsuit against the Canadian Department of National Defence and the Canadian Armed Forces due to a lack of sports-injury insurance for veterans. This legal action led the Canadian government to acknowledge the coverage gap and introduce new insurance policies for future Invictus Games competitors.

2025: Introduction of Winter Adaptive Sports

Scheduled for 2025, this edition of the Invictus Games will mark a historic milestone as the first to incorporate winter adaptive sports, such as alpine skiing, Nordic skiing, skeleton, and wheelchair curling.

May 2026: Australian Government Funding Decision for Invictus Australia

In May 2026, the Australian government initially announced the discontinuation of a $9 million funding pledge to the legacy organization Invictus Australia as part of the 2026 budget; however, this decision was successfully overturned by the end of the same month.

2026: Boeing ends partnership

In 2026, the long-standing sponsorship and partnership between Boeing and the Invictus Games came to an end.

2027: Invictus Games Birmingham

In 2027, the Invictus Games are scheduled to be held at the National Exhibition Centre in Birmingham, marking the latest iteration of the international sporting event.