Prince Harry welcomes next Invictus Games in UK during closing ceremony聽
Prince Harry founded the Paralympic-style games after serving in the military for a decade.
Monday 17 February 2025 09:51, UK
Prince Harry has welcomed the next iteration of the Invictus Games in the UK, as he spoke at the closing ceremony of this year's event in Canada.
Throughout the week, the royal attended several events, including an indoor rowing competition where he was joined by Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.
A founding patron, Harry spoke at the closing ceremony of the games in Whistler on Sunday.
He paid tribute to Canada's First Nations' people, Invictus athletes and their families and welcomed the next games, taking place in Birmingham in the UK.
It comes amid legal troubles as the prince battles the Home Office over the level of personal protection he will receive in the UK.
Speaking in Whistler, Harry said: "As you have seen and experienced, this week is so much more than a sporting event.
"It is a platform for positive change.
"And so long as the challenges around us demand it and require it... the games will go on.
"Bring on Invictus Games Birmingham 2027. You have permission to party."
The Paralympics-style sporting event is a tournament for injured and sick military personnel and veterans.
The Duke of Sussex founded the tournament, following a decade of service in the UK military, after being inspired by the Warrior Games in Colorado in 2013.
He went on to stage the inaugural games at London's Olympic Park in 2014.
Mr Trudeau also spoke at the closing ceremony, thanking the prince personally, saying: "To the Duke of Sussex, Prince Harry, without whom these Invictus Games would never have happened, you are the one who turned this incredible idea into a reality.
"As someone you roped in early in my time as prime minister, I can testify to the energy, the dedication, the commitment this man has to you and to this ideal."
More than 12,000 people filled the Rogers Arena in Vancouver for the ceremony.
It came after the competition hosted its first winter games this year, which saw more than 60 UK veterans compete.
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In total, more than 500 people from 20 nations came together for the adaptive sports event.
Events like alpine skiing and snowboarding, Nordic skiing, biathlon, skeleton and wheelchair curling were introduced along with the core events of the Invictus Games.
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Earlier in the week, Harry joined friends and family of Team UK at a wheelchair rugby match where Britain won silver.