The Invictus Games Foundation Conducts its Final Pre-Games Visit to Vancouver and Whistler
The Invictus Games Foundation has conducted its final pre-Games visit to Vancouver and Whistler to assess the operations and planning for the historic first winter-hybrid edition of the Invictus Games Vancouver Whistler 2025 presented by ATCO and Boeing in February 2025.
In its role as the governing body, the Invictus Games Foundation has been making frequent visit to British Columbia to observe the operations and planning ahead of the seventh Invictus Games. The Invictus Games Foundation Executive Team was joined by our Founding Patron, Prince Harry, The Duke of Sussex for the visit as well as attending a series of events to promote the upcoming Games.
111th Grey Cup
The 111th Grey Cup welcomed members of the Invictus Games Community to celebrate our respective sporting events coming to British Columbia. The Duke was joined on the field at BC Place with Team Canada competitor Wenshuang Nie and BC Lions' owner Amar Doman for a Jersey Handover Ceremony. The Grey Cup 2024 is the first time in ten years that the event has returned to British Columbia and was held at BC Place which will be the location of the Opening Ceremony of Vancouver Whistler 2025.
Wenshuang Nie took part in the handover ceremony and is a member of Team Canada for the upcoming Invictus Games. She was a Naval Diesel Mechanic and a Medical Officer. Originally born in Urumqi, China, she then settled with her family in Regina Saskatchewan during her childhood. Despite Wen’s medical training, she did not recognize the toll that military service took on her mental health and it wasn’t until years after her voluntary release that she reached out for help and subsequently diagnosed with PTSD. She is now utilising the power of sport to aid her recovery and will compete in Biathlon, Skeleton, Swimming and Wheelchair Rugby.
IG25 School Program
The Invictus Games Vancouver Whistler 2025 Organising Committee launched its School Program at Seaforth Armoury, one of Vancouver’s most historic military facilities, to help raise awareness of the Invictus Games in Canada and the issues facing members of the service community during their recovery. Our Patron was welcomed by members of Team Canada to the event and students from Shaughnessy Elementary School and Ecole Windsor Secondary School who have been learning from the new programs, which are available here. The event was supported by volunteers from Boeing, and culminated in students being presented by The Duke with tickets to attend the Opening Ceremony of the upcoming Games.
Connecting with the Four Host Nations
Prince Harry visited the Musqueam Indian Reserve in Vancouver, where he was warmly welcomed by Chief Wayne Sparrow to the Little House – a sacred space where family and community gather.
During the visit, The Duke reconnected with Chief Dean Nelson, Lil’Wat Nation, Chief Jen Thomas, Tsleil-Waututh Nation and Wilson Williams, Spokesperson, Squamish Nation. He was also introduced to young people from all Four Host Nations, who shared their cultures, values and vision for the future.
The Invictus Games Vancouver Whistler 2025 will be held on the traditional territories of the Lil̓wat7úl (Líl̓wat), xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱_wú7mesh (Squamish) and səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) Nations.
The Invictus Games Vancouver Whistler 2025 is committed to engaging with each Nation, addressing Canada’s Truth and Reconciliation Calls to Action, and ensuring that the Four Host First Nations languages, traditions, protocols and cultures are meaningfully acknowledged, respected and represented in the planning, staging and hosting of the Games.
Preparations for Vancouver Whistler 2025
During the visit, members of the Executive Team of the Invictus Games Foundation have been assessing the readiness of the Vancouver Whistler 2025 Organising Committee and visiting all the sites that will be used during the upcoming Games.
"We are incredibly excited to see the results of years of hard work as the planning reaches the final stages ahead of delivery of the Invictus Games next February. The competitor experience along with their family and friends, has been considered at every stage of every event, and the winter-hybrid Games are set to be spectacular for spectator and participant alike,” said Richard Smith, CBE, Deputy CEO of the Invictus Games Foundation.
The Executive Team has been able to assess preparations at BC Place, Hillcrest Centre, Rodgers Arena, UBC Aquatics Centre, and Vancouver Convention Centre to ensure that Invictus Games competitors, their Friends & Family and spectators have the best possible experience at the Invictus Games.
Tickets are available at: invictusgames2025.ca/tickets
