Birmingham promises ‘truly unique and memorable’ Invictus Games as city wins right to host 2027 global showcase

The team behind Birmingham’s successful bid for the 2027 Invictus Games say they plan to “create something truly unique and memorable” as the eyes of the world turn to the city.

Birmingham won the right to host the games ahead of Washington DC with its £26m bid backed by the UK government. The sporting event for service personnel and wounded, injured and ill veterans will be held at the National Exhibition Center (NEC) in July 2027.

The Birmingham event will showcase a number of sports in Birmingham – including new ones with pickleball, laser running and sports anticipated to debut at the 2027 Games.

This will be the Games’ first venture back to British soil since Prince Harry inaugurated them in London in 2014. The Duke, who serves as Patron of the Invictus Games Foundation, said: “Congratulations to Birmingham, UK for winning the bid to host. Invictus Games 2027.

“Your city’s strong ties to the military community have made it a formidable competitor from the start. Over the years, we’ve seen each city bring a unique spirit and vision to life for competitors, their families and spectators.

“We have no doubt that 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 he knows him well.”

Helen Helliwell, chief executive of the Invictus Games Birmingham auction, said: “Our aim is to deliver the most cohesive and celebrated Invictus Games in history, bringing together sporting ceremonies, festivals, here at the NEC, in one location.”

Explaining why the NEC is suitable to host the games, she said: “It has lots of accommodation, lots of indoor and outdoor space, a purpose-built arena for our opening ceremony and we’re looking to host the closing ceremony on the lake . .

“We will use all this amazing space to create a truly memorable and sustainable festival that brings communities together.”

And she added: “We know the people of Birmingham will give a warm welcome to all our participating nations. The youngest city in Western Europe, the most ethically diverse, with almost 200 languages ​​spoken, we will take advantage of this diversity to create a cultural program that celebrates differences through food, music and the arts.”

Al Carns, minister for veterans and people and MP for Birmingham Selly Oak, who served and led during four tours in Afghanistan, said: “All eyes will be on Birmingham at these games and this is a great story for mayor, it’s a great story for the council and it’s a great story for the West Midlands community.

“Voters in Birmingham and the West Midlands now have something to come to, see and hear the stories of all those veterans and be really proud of.”

He said Birmingham is, for many wounded servicemen and women, the place they come to when they come home from duty. The city is home to the Queen Elizabeth Hospital, the Royal College of Defense Medicine, Fisher House, which houses families while their loved ones are being treated, and the Defense Medical Rehabilitation Centre.

Mr Carns said: “We have a lot of veterans who, when they were injured in Afghanistan and Iraq, came here as a first port of call back to the UK, and then from there they went and now they’re coming back to compete in games and continue this journey of recovery.

“They have come full circle and mean so much to veterans, families and those who serve. I think it’s really, really powerful.”

Sharon Thompson, Deputy Mayor of Birmingham and Deputy Leader of Birmingham City Council, said: “I was really excited about the 2022 Commonwealth Games, but this is a different kind of magic, a different kind of special.

“When we get visitors, we like to host — we’re going to welcome people into the city and really focus on being an inclusive city.”

Sergeant Jonny Ball, who competed at the Invictus Games in Dusseldorf in 2023, said he was delighted the games were coming to Birmingham because the armed forces community was “intrinsically linked to this part of the world”.

He said: “This part of the world is the soul of our recovery community, the community of wounded, injured and sick that we are privileged to be a part of and ambassadors for.

“I myself had seven surgeries further afield in Coventry.

“We have so many deep emotional connections with the individuals who have taken care of us. I am extremely excited for those who over the years have cared for our community of wounded, injured and sick.

“Now I have the opportunity to come to this place to share what I think is the magic of the Invictus Games, and it’s that magic that I felt in Dusseldorf, which was palpable.”