The Thrill of the Hill: the Invictus Games 2025

The Invictus Games, created in 2014 by Prince Harry to help the rehabilitation of military personnel, is holding its 7^th edition in Vancouver and Whistler, Canada from 8-16 February. And for this edition, several mountain sports will be added to the programme: Alpine skiing and snowboard, Nordic skiing, biathlon, skeleton and wheelchair curling.

Over 550 athletes from 23 countries will be participating, and will be accompanied by the friends and family who are so vital to their recovery. Some sports require specific adaptations for their impairments, others, like sitting volleyball, can be played by mixed teams of players with different impairments.

A young British fan ready to support his mum in the curling competition.

Canada is hosting the Games for a second time. And this time, since the host cities are Vancouver and the ski resort Whistler, it will include winter sports, in addition to the core Invictus Games sports of Indoor Rowing, Sitting Volleyball, Swimming, Wheelchair Rugby and Wheelchair Basketball.

Adaptive Alpine skiing with a sit ski. Other skiiers use standard skis, and blind skiiers ski with a guide. Because the Invictus Games is as much about participating as competing, and the winter sports are new, Alpine skiing like other events has a Novice (beginner) level competition and an Intermediate one.

Prince Harry, a long-time active officer in the British Army, started the Games in 2014 to recognise the sacrifices made by military personnel and the incredible support friends, family and carers gave sick and injured soldiers in their recovery. He chose the name “Invictus”, the title of a poem about resilience by English poet William Henley which inspired Nelson Mandela in prison.

In the fell clutch of circumstance
I have not winced nor cried aloud.
Under the bludgeonings of chance
My head is bloody, but unbowed.

Read the whole poem.

Prince Harry chatting to members of the Canadian team.

The video below is from a member of the Canadian team for the Games. Jeff Becker explains how returning to snowboarding was his motivation to do all his physical rehabilitation work after he was injured in service. He went from being unable to pick up his little girl to getting back on a snowboard the same day she was able to do a blue run. He will compete in snowboarding, as well as skeleton, swimming and sitting volleyball.