SUPPORT OUR JOURNALISM: Please consider donating to keep our website running and free for all - thank you!

Features

Foundation Spotlight: Invictus Foundation

At the end of February, an air of excitement surrounded the famous Abbey Road Studios in London; Jon Bon Jovi was re-recording a single, but this time with a very special guest in attendance…

The re-recording of Bon Jovi’s song ‘Unbroken’, with the Invictus Games Choir, was part of a collaboration with Prince Harry and the Invictus Games Foundation, of which the Prince is Patron. The single was released on Friday, 27th March and is now available to buy and stream – all proceeds from the sale of the single will go to the Invictus Games Foundation.

The word ‘invictus’ means ‘unconquered’ and the first Invictus Games event was held in London in 2014. The event was founded by Prince Harry, who wanted to establish an international sporting event for injured service personnel and those battling illness and was inspired by the Warrior Games in 2013 in Colorado. The Prince had long been involved in creating opportunities for current and former service personnel and was a champion of the benefits of sporting activity for rehabilitation in terms of both mental and physical health. The ethos of the games is to highlight the service of serving and ex-military personnel and support them and their families in their journeys of rehabilitation and recovery.

The success of the first event in London led to the creation of the Invictus Games Foundation, which organises the locations for future games. The Foundation has an international scope – twenty nations currently participate in the games, with interest always increasing. The Foundation works in partnership with other organisations, supporting current and former service personnel.

After the success of the first Invictus Games, they were further held in Orlando in 2016, Toronto in 2017 and Sydney in 2018. The next Invictus Games were due to take place this year in The Hague but have been delayed due to the current COVID-19 pandemic. The event will be rescheduled to take place in 2021, on a date yet to be confirmed.