City on shortlist of two to host Invictus Games
BIRMINGHAM has made the final shortlist of just two locations vying to host Prince Harry’s Invictus Games in 2027.
In what would be another feather in the region’s cap when it comes to hosting major sporting events, it is now battling with Washington DC to secure the final vote in July.
The UK government is backing the region in its bid to host the games for the first time, with the National Exhibition Centre in Solihull set to be the main event venue.
The bid also draws on the connection between the armed forces and the military hospital, now housed within Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Selly Oak.
The event would feature the games’ nine core sports alongside esports as well as exploring the addition of a team triathlon as a potential new category.
If successful, it would bring another major sporting event to the West Midlands following the successful 2022 Commonwealth Games and the 2026 European Athletics Championships at Alexander Stadium in Birmingham.
The Invictus Games, which was founded by Prince Harry in partnership with the
Ministry of Defence, is an international multi-sport event for wounded, injured and sick service personnel including veterans and those still serving.
Normally held every two years, the 2027 event will be the eighth time the games has taken place, with the inaugural 2014 competition in London the only other occasion that the UK has hosted.
We have a truly compelling bid to bring the games back to the UK Helen Helliwell, chief executive of the UK’s 2027 bid
Helen Helliwell, chief executive of the UK’s 2027 bid, said: “We were privileged to make initial presentations to the Invictus Games foundation board and are thrilled to move forward to the shortlist.
“We have a truly compelling bid to bring the games back to the UK, showcasing the best of our armed
forces communities and delivering on our pledge to make this the best country in the world to be a veteran. “As well as delivering an amazing week of the games festival at the NEC, we want to use the platform of the games to improve opportunities for adaptive sport, arts and employment, enabling communities to thrive, both in the run up to the games and as a legacy from them, across the UK and beyond.”
Lord Allen, chairman of the Invictus Games Foundation, added: “We were delighted to receive such a strong field of applications to host the Invictus Games in 2027, which gives us tremendous confidence for this next iteration of the games.
“Both cities now shortlisted for 2027 have kept the experiences of the competitors and supporters at their core, building different but hugely exciting bids.
“We look forward to the next stage of the process and selecting another inspirational iteration of the games over the summer.”