Hosting Invictus Games a huge opportunity for the region - Chamber
Birmingham has won the bid to host the 2027 Invictus Games – beating off a rival bid from Washington DC.
The event, held every two years, sees injured military personnel and veterans from around the world compete in a range of sports.
Staged at the National Exhibition Centre (NEC), the Birmingham games will be the first time the event has come to the UK since the Duke of Sussex staged the inaugural tournament in London in 2014
The city’s successful bid – announced just two years after it hosted the Commonwealth Games to great acclaim – was warmly welcomed today by Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce chief executive Henrietta Brealey (pictured).
She said: “Hosting the Invictus Games is a huge opportunity for the region to continue to showcase its strengths for delivering world-class sporting events. The city is home to exceptional sports and major events infrastructure through the NEC Group and key venues.
“Furthermore, it holds a deep connection to the Armed Forces community, particularly through University Hospitals Birmingham. As a Defence Employer Recognition Scheme Gold Award Holder, at the Chamber, we look forward to supporting the Invictus Games and championing the incredible athletes who have given so much in service to their countries.”
In a tribute to Birmingham’s successful bid, Prince Harry said: "Your city's strong ties to the armed forces community made it a formidable contender from the very start.
"We have no doubt the people of Birmingham will join in celebrating the unwavering respect and admiration we have for our veteran and service community, showing the world how their courage ignites hope and unites us all - something your city knows well."
A flag-raising ceremony with veterans minister Al Carns was being staged at the NEC today to mark the announcement.
The £26m government-backed bid drew on the armed forces' connections with Birmingham's Queen Elizabeth Hospital.
During the Afghanistan conflict, severely injured military casualties evacuated from Helmand province were treated at the QE Hospital in Selly Oak.
The hospital is also home to the Royal College of Defence Medicine, while the Defence Medical Rehabilitation Centre is also based in the Midlands, near Loughborough.
Stephen "Hoops" Hooper, Team UK captain for the 2025 games said the announcement would "mean the world to Team UK".
"Birmingham is a special place for wounded, injured and sick service personnel and veterans, as they all come through here at some point.
"With support from the Royal British Legion for Team UK, Invictus has helped me embrace life again. As we prepare for Canada next year, it's great to know the games are coming home in 2027."
Prince Harry, who served in Afghanistan, said each city had brought "a unique spirit and vision to life for competitors, their families and spectators".
Prince Harry founded the event after he visited the Warrior Games in the US in 2013.
The Invictus Games have been held across the globe in the decade since its inception, including in Toronto, Orlando and Sydney.
The 2025 event in Vancouver and Whistler, is expected to attract 550 competitors from up to 25 nations.
Three new sports, pickleball, laser run, and esports, are expected to feature in 2027.
Helen Helliwell, chief executive of Invictus Games Birmingham 2027, said the event would be "the most cohesive, sustainable event in Invictus Games history" with legacy programmes benefiting communities nationwide.
GBCC also launched a content campaign during the recent Armed Forces Week, highlighting several organisations and individuals with personal connections to the military. Click here to explore exclusive interviews with Armed Forces personnel.
