Tuesday 2 February 2021
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex at the Wheelchair Basketball final at the Invictus Games, 2018 in Sydney, Australia
Samir Hussein / WireImage via Getty Images
When Prince Harry founded the Invictus Games in 2014, it marked a significant milestone for the royal. Having served in the army himself, Harry came up with the idea of a sporting event for wounded, sick or injured armed services personnel and veterans to help them ‘find the motivation to move on and not be defined by their injuries’. As the Invictus Games Foundation website relates: ‘The word “invictus’ means ‘unconquered”… The Games harness the power of sport to inspire recovery, support rehabilitation and generate a wider understanding and respect for those who serve their country.’
WATCH: Prince Harry sadly announces postponement of Invictus Games The Hague
In a joint statement with Mart de Kruif, Chair of the Invictus Games The Hague 2020, and Sir Keith Mills, Chair of the Invictus Games Foundation, the Duke said: We are Invictus: from the communities that host and cherish the Games, and the competitors who display unshakeable resilience and commitment as they prepare for and participate in the Games, to the families and network of supporters who support these men and women on their journey to competition. For so many around the world, the Invictus community included, COVID-19 has changed our expectations, hopes, and plans.
The Invictus Games were meant to be held last May but were pushed back amid the coronavirus pandemic.
They are set to go ahead in The Hague next month and Prince Harry is expected to attend if the pandemic allows him to do so.
In December The Games organising committee confirmed it remained committed to delivering the competition from May 29 to June 5, 2021.
At the time the Invictus Games The Hague 2020 CEO Conny Wenting said: Despite the sad news of some of the teams’ travel restrictions as a result of COVID-19, we are still coordinating the Invictus Games The Hague 2020 on the basis of 20 participating nations.