Prince Harry congratulates Birmingham as it is revealed the West Midlands city will host the 2027 Invictus Games

Prince Harry congratulated Birmingham after the city was announced as the host of the 2027 Invictus Games.

The West Midland city beat a rival bid from Washington DC to secure the games.

Three new sports are expected to debut at the game, which will be held at the National Exhibition Center in July 2027, they include pickleball, laser running and esports.

The Games will return to the UK for the first time in 13 years, after the inaugural Invictus Games were held in London in 2014.

In a statement reported by The Times, he said: “Congratulations to Birmingham, UK for winning the bid to host the 2027 Invictus Games.

“Your city’s close ties to the military community made it a formidable candidate from the outset.”

Prince Harry founded the competition for wounded, injured and ill servicemen and veterans. Since the first game, the number of competing nations has steadily increased from 13 nations in 2014 to 22 in the most recent 2023 games held in Dusseldorf.

The Duke of Sussex attended a special service at St Paul’s Cathedral in May to mark the tenth anniversary of the games.

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The Duchess of Sussex did not join Harry for the service, nor did Prince William or King Charles.

Birmingham’s bid for the game has been backed by £26m from the government. City offer

it focused on the NEC and relied on the connection with the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Selly Oak, which treats wounded, injured and ill service personnel and veterans.

So is the Royal College of Defense Medicine, which trains clinicians across the UK and the world-class Defense Medical Rehabilitation Center at Stanford Hall.

Two new sports to be played at the games are Laser Run and Pickleball. Laser Run involves athletes completing a number of laps while firing a laser gun.

Pickleball involves players hitting a hollow plastic ball with a smooth-faced paddle.

Birmingham was the most recent host of the Commonwealth Games in 2022 after original host city Durban in South Africa was unable to host.

The next Invictus Games will be held in Whistler, Canada in 2025.