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Invictus Australia has put down a bid to host the Invictus Games in 2031, following the successful 2018 Sydney run.
The Invictus Games, a multinational sports competition that is held for injured and wounded veterans and national service men and women, will be potentially held in Australia in 2031, with the intention for an Aussie bid now announced.
“Sport runs deep in Australia’s identity. It’s more than competition – it’s a shared language that brings people together, whether they’re cheering from the sidelines, volunteering at the local club, or taking part themselves,” said General Sir Peter Cosgrove, patron of Invictus Australia.
“That same spirit of connection and purpose is at the heart of service in the Australian Defence Force.
“The camaraderie, the commitment to something bigger than oneself, and the resilience forged through shared experience mirror what we see in sporting communities across the country.”
The games, which were founded by Prince Harry in 2014, seek to represent a recovery pathway for veterans and service people, by “celebrat[ing] the unconquered human spirit, and shine a spotlight on the men and women who served”.
Invictus Australia said that “early intervention, connection, purpose, and holistic wellbeing” are all features of reintegration into society after service that promote a positive mental state for ADF veterans.
They added that sport and events such as the Invictus Games have the capacity to reflect at least 34 of the 122 recommendations that came out of the Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide.
“We are proud of the role that the Invictus Games plays in changing lives and saving lives of international wounded, injured and sick service personnel and veterans,” said Invictus Games Foundation CEO Rob Owen.
“As custodians of the Invictus movement Down Under, we are delighted to see Invictus Australia’s interest in bidding to host another Invictus Games.”
