Prince Harry’s Invictus Games Reaches New Milestone as It Heads To Asia for First Time

NEED TO KNOW

• Prince Harry’s Invictus Games is heading to Korea in 2029
• The latest venue for the contest for wounded, injured and sick veterans and service personnel will be in the city of Daejeon, it was announced on Monday, July 20
• It will be the first time the games, which started in London, U.K. back in 2014, will be held in Asia

Prince Harry’s Invictus Games has a new home.

The international contest for wounded, injured and sick veterans and service people is heading to Korea, it was announced on Monday, July 20.

The upcoming 2029 games will be held in the city of Daejeon, marking the first time the event will have taken place in Asia. It will follow the 2027 games, which are set to take place in Birmingham, U.K.

Korea beat two other shortlisted contenders, including San Diego, Calif., to be hosts, the Invictus Games Foundation announced.

Under its plans in Korea, there will be 12 sports included in the games, that are set to take place from Oct. 6-15, 2029. The event will unite around 550 competitors from 26 nations, supported by their family members and friends.

Lord Charles Allen, Chair of the Invictus Games Foundation, said that picking Daejeon was a “defining moment” for the movement.

“As the first Asian nation selected to host the Games, the Republic of Korea represents an exciting new chapter in our journey to ensure that more wounded, injured and sick service personnel and veterans, wherever they live, can benefit from the power of sport and the strength of the Invictus community,” he said.

“We were deeply impressed by Daejeon’s vision, the commitment of its partners and the ambition to create a lasting legacy that extends far beyond the closing ceremony,” Allen continued.

Former Invictus Games competitor, Na Hyeongyoon, said in a statement, “I have always believed that the greatest barrier is not disability itself, but the way society perceives it. Through the Invictus Games, I have seen that those perceptions can change.”

Hyeongyoon, who appeared in Harry’s Netflix series, Heart of Invictus, added, “Now, in 2029, it will be Korea’s turn to lead that change. I hope the Invictus Games in Daejeon will showcase the strength, potential, and pride of our wounded service personnel and veterans and become a turning point in transforming how our society sees them.”

The news comes after Harry took part in some of the new games that will be played in Birmingham, U.K. next summer, as he attended a one-year countdown event held at the city’s National Exhibition Centre on July 10.

During the event, which occurred amid a week of a court setback and controversies over his security and where he might stay, Harry appeared in good spirits as he dashed around the arena during a laser run event, before taking a turn at wheelchair rugby — a long-running sport featured in the Invictus Games. The Duke of Sussex also played pickleball.

While making a speech on the day, Harry said it was “incredibly special” to have the games back in the U.K., “Not just because this is where the Invictus journey first began, but because Britain has always understood the importance of service, resilience, and standing together when it matters most.”

The Republic of Korea first took part in the Invictus Games at The Hague 2020.

Harry, who served in the British Army, created the games after being inspired by the U.S.’ Warrior Games, another adaptive sporting competition for service personnel and veterans. The first Invictus Games were held in London in 2014.

“I thought, ‘Wow, look at the power of sport, look at how it is literally changing lives in front of my very eyes,’ “ the father of two — who was highlighted in TIME’s 100 Most Influential People in Sports 2026 list — said.

“It was so clear to me. Let’s invite as many countries as possible to make it international, because clearly more countries need to benefit from this,” Harry continued.

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The Invictus Games have been held in Orlando (2016), Toronto (2017), Sydney (2018), The Hague (slated for 2020 but delayed until 2022 amid the coronavirus pandemic), Düsseldorf (2023) and Vancouver-Whistler (2025).

The event also plays a role in the Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s relationship. Harry and Meghan Markle made their debut as a couple at the 2017 Invictus Games in Toronto, where she lived when they first met. After Meghan attended the Invictus Games Toronto opening ceremony, the pair held hands during their first joint public appearance to watch the wheelchair tennis event.

“There is nowhere you can feel more embraced and supported than with the Invictus family,” Prince Harry told PEOPLE exclusively in 2022. “The Toronto Games were our first time out and about publicly in an official way. We were dating at the time, so it was a lot to take in, but fortunately, we were with the perfect community for that.”

Read the original article on People