It's coming home: Birmingham will host Prince Harry's 2027 Invictus Games
And the winner is… Birmingham!
In three years, the West Midlands city will host what will be the eighth Invictus Games.
In earning the right to hold the 2027 games, Birmingham has seen off competition from five other contenders, including Washington DC.
A formidable contender
The Invictus Games is an international multi-sport event launched in 2014 by the Duke of Sussex after taking inspiration from the 2013 Warrior Games.
Following the announcement, Prince Harry, the patron of the Invictus Games Foundation, said: "Congratulations to Birmingham UK on winning the bid to host the Invictus Games 2027.
"Your city's strong ties to the Armed Forces community made it a formidable contender."
Running over a week in July 2027, the event will take place at the NEC.
Defence Secretary John Healey also welcomed the news that the event for serving personnel and veterans would return to the UK.
He said: "I know the MOD and the people of Birmingham will warmly welcome teams from around the world to support injured military personnel.
"The Invictus Games are an important chance to support those who defend us."
Forces News was in Birmingham to witness the flag-raising ceremony and spoke to the Veterans and People Minister Al Carns about the announcement.
"It's great for the city. It's great for the veterans, it's great for their families, and it's great for those serving," the former Royal Marines colonel said.
He also confirmed the games were being financially underwritten by the Government, with no cost to the city of Birmingham.
Mr Carns added: "It's going to bring a lot of resources into Birmingham which is fantastic news for the city, mayor and everybody else."
Next year Invictus will host its first games involving winter sports in Whistler, Canada.
The adaptive event is aimed at wounded, injured or sick Armed Forces personnel and veterans, and it takes its name from the Latin word "Invictus", meaning "unconquered" or "undefeated".
Invictus Games Vancouver Whistler 2025 will bring together more than 500 competitors from 20-plus nations to compete in adaptive sports.
Sixty-four people make up the squad, including 60 competitors and four reserves, who will travel to Vancouver and Whistler in Canada in February.
Team UK will be made up of by far the biggest proportion of people still serving in the Armed Forces that it has ever produced.
Ready to inspire more
RAF veteran Stephen 'Hoops' Hooper, is leading Team UK's 64-strong team and told Forces News that he was "inspired" by some friends to take on the Invictus journey.
Hoops was medically discharged in 2021, after serving 19 years in the RAF. He was diagnosed with PTSD diagnosis resulting from his experiences whilst on deployment in Iraq.
He said: "I got inspired by friends of mine who have competed. There are people in the team now who are competing because they say that I've inspired them, and hopefully all the other team members can inspire others as well and bring them forward on their recovery journey."
Hoops thinks Birmingham 2027 is going to be a "fantastic event", having the British public behind them all the way.
"Friends and family can actually come and support...to have all your friends and family be able to come, that's just going to be something else."
The newest Team UK captain said he is dealing "surprisingly well" with the pressure of being named captain crediting the "fantastic" team.
"It's such a relaxed atmosphere, everyone is really rearing to go. We are really looking forward to getting into training and getting into Canada."
Earlier this month, Prince Harry, a former captain in the Blues and Royals, paid tribute to the "passion, determination and resilience" of wounded, injured and sick serving UK personnel and veterans who will compete in the seventh games.
Prince Harry said: "We're excited to see their passion, determination, and resilience on full display as they take on this new chapter."
Following the squad announcement, Louise Assioun, the Royal British Legion's (RBL) Team UK manager, said: "For the selected individuals, being part of a team again, representing their country and being around others who are all on their individual recovery pathway is what makes Team UK's journey to the Invictus Games so unique.
"The Royal British Legion is proud to support them every step of the way."
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