AUSTRALIA
Team Australia joined around 5,000 attendees at last night’s spectacular opening ceremony for the Invictus Games Vancouver Whistler 2025, which for the first time will incorporate winter sports including skiing, snowboarding, wheelchair curling and biathlon.
The combined Australian team of 33 current and former serving military personnel, enjoyed the full show of live music – featuring Chris Martin and Katy Perry, the Parade of Nations, stunning performances and moving stories to mark the start of the games.
The Invictus Games are an international, adaptive multi-sports competition for current and former serving military personnel who have been wounded, injured or become ill during their military service.
Competitors will compete in both individual and team sports including alpine skiing, snowboarding, indoor rowing, biathlon, Nordic skiing, sitting volleyball, skeleton, swimming, wheelchair basketball, wheelchair curling and wheelchair rugby.
“I acknowledge the important role our competitors’ family and friends have played in supporting them. The Invictus Games are as much about our competitors’ commitment and service as it is their athleticism, and I thank them for their support,” said Australian Minister for Defence Personnel, Matt Keogh.
“Our competitors have exceeded every expectation to make it to the starting line.”
That spirit and determination was mirrored during the official opening address from Games patron Prince Harry, the Duke of Sussex, who founded the competition over a decade ago to support the recovery and rehabilitation of international wounded, injured and ill current and former serving military personnel.
“Over the past decade I’ve lost count of the times we’ve heard you tell us that the Invictus Games saved you. Respectfully, I disagree,” Prince Harry told the crowd at Vancouver Convention Centre.
“Invictus didn’t save you. You saved yourself. It was you, who pushed through the doubt and despair. You, who summited your own mountain and brought us along with you. It was you who kept going even when you didn’t think you had any more to give. We didn’t do that. You did.
“The Games simply reveal what is already within you. That scarcest – and most precious – of the world’s resources: character. A spirit; of fortitude and perseverance that can never be defeated.”
Following the opener, it was straight into the action with initial wheelchair basketball pool matches, where Team Australia took on Georgia, succumbing to the former Soviet republic nation 9 points to 12.
Play continues with more wheelchair basketball matches as well as wheelchair curling on day 2, before competitors head to Whistler for snow sports action on days 3, 4 and 5.
Invictus Games Vancouver Whistler 2025 continues until 16 February where the Australian Defence Force is partnering with Invictus Australia to support a team of 33 serving and former serving military members.
Invictus Games Vancouver Whistler 2025 will bring together up to 550 serving and former serving military personnel from up to 25 nations.
