The Invictus Games is set to make history this week as it brings winter sports to the competition for the first time, with Vancouver and Whistler hosting the 2025 edition.
The Games will kick off with a star-studded opening ceremony on February 8, featuring performances from Coldplay's Chris Martin and pop icon Katy Perry.
Twenty-three nations will participate in this year's event, with Lithuania and Brazil joining as new competitors.
The expansion marks a significant milestone for the Games, which were founded by Prince Harry after his experience with wounded veterans in Afghanistan and inspiration from the U.S. Warrior Games.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex will travel to Vancouver ahead of the opening ceremony this weekend
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Outgoing Invictus Games CEO Dominic Reid has highlighted Prince Harry's deep commitment to the foundation and its mission to support wounded veterans.
"It is very important to him as a soldier, its very important to him as a person," Reid told People.
A significant milestone was reached when Harry addressed NATO's military committee via video link in October 2024.
"He told how Invictus Games was to him for his recovery for him, for his journey," Reid said. "There's a really strong synergy between him and the Foundation."
Outgoing Invictus Games CEO Dominic Reid has highlighted Prince Harry's deep commitment to the foundation and its mission to support wounded veterans.
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"He has created extraordinary opportunities to an extraordinary number of people. They feel seen and heard and cared about," Reid added.
Among the new participants, Nigeria is making a return after their debut at the 2023 Düsseldorf Games.
The West African nation, which received a visit from Prince Harry and Meghan Markle in May 2024, is developing the world's first Invictus Centre in Abuja.
To prepare for the winter conditions, the Nigerian team has conducted training camps in Colorado.
The expansion to include Lithuania and Brazil further demonstrates the Games' growing global reach.
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Prince Harry founded the Invictus Games in 2014.
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The inclusion of winter sports represents a personal triumph for Reid, who has championed this expansion for a decade.
"I've been trying to get this to happen for ten years," he said. "For me, it is fantastic.
"I know there is a fantastic amount that winter sports have to offer - not only in the environment that people find themselves in but also the whole approach to calculated risk-taking that is such an important part of peoples recovery."
Reid reflected on his decade-long tenure, noting that his enduring memories "are all emotional."
"They are all about seeing peoples lives change in front of you, which is an honour and a privilege," he said.
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