Invictus Games, Sydney 2018

In 2013, Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, was attending the Warrior Games organised by the United States Department of Defense when he saw how servicemen and women, hurt emotionally and physically, could be united and inspired by sport. At these Games he witnessed how sport could provide support for families affected by military service. This inspired him to create the Invictus Games.

The word “invictus” was chosen because it means “unconquered” and is inspired by the poem of the same name written by William Ernest Henley in 1875. A word which embodies the fighting spirit of wounded, injured and ill service personnel, and personifies what these tenacious men and women can achieve.

In September 2014, more than 400 competitors from 13 nations competed at the first Invictus Games in London. The second Games were staged in Orlando, Florida in May 2016, with 485 competitors from 14 nations, and the third in Toronto, with 17 participating nations and 540 competitors. After Sydney, the next Games will take place in The Hague in the Netherlands in 2020.

Sydney will be host to this year’s Games, held from 20 to 27 October 2018. Bringing together 500 competitors from 18 nations to participate in 13 different sports, the athletes will also be joined by the families and friends who play such an important role in supporting their recovery and the rehabilitation process. While the competitors will battle to win medals, the greatest impact will be seen through the personal stories which show how people have transformed their lives by becoming active and connected through sport.

That said, these Games are about much more than sport. They honour the sacrifice of 102 000 Australians who have given their lives in the service of their nation over the past 100 years and they remember the 300 000 Australian veterans who live within our communities today. Perhaps most importantly, they celebrate the incredible men and women who participate in these Games and have chosen to use sport to overcome their personal challenges.

The profile of these Games gives Australia a unique opportunity to communicate a powerful message to all communities about what sport can do to support health and wellbeing and showcase the role of the family in the recovery and rehabilitation process. The Games celebrate the stories of people with different abilities in our communities and focus on what they are able to achieve.

These stories help us all to see the potential that lies within everyone.

More information and inspiration is available at:

• Launch reel: bit.ly/IG2018_250

• Look back at Invictus Games, Toronto 2017: bit.ly/IG2017_highlights

• Invictus, a poem by William Ernest Henley: bit.ly/IG2018_Unconquered

• Invictus Games, Sydney 2018: https://www.invictusgames2018.org

We encourage people from across the community to witness the remarkable people who will be competing. These Games will, quite literally, change people’s lives. Show your support: read, watch and talk about the Invictus Games.

Please donate to support the legacy of the Games, which will invest in programs that encourage participation in sport.

And be inspired!