Prince Harry's Invictus Games head to NSW

Prince Harry's international sporting competition for injured veterans, the Invictus Games, is coming to Sydney in 2018.

Britain's Prince Harry

NSW has won its bid to host Prince Harry's Invictus Games in 2018. (AAP)

Prince Harry's international sports competition for wounded veterans, the Invictus Games, will be held in Sydney in 2018.

More than 500 athletes from 17 countries will take part, with events to be held on and around the harbour and at Sydney Olympic Park.

Bringing the games to the Emerald City was an easy decision, Prince Harry said.

"We had three key criteria," he said. "First, it had to be an iconic city - somewhere known the world over.

"Second, it needed to be a city with a proud military heritage, which would welcome competitors from all over the world with open arms.

"And finally, we wanted to go somewhere where they are absolutely sports mad and would really get behind our competitors".

The British royal made the announcement on Saturday in a video message filmed at Australia House in London featuring popstar Kylie Minogue, Wallabies captain Stephen Moore and several Australian Defence Force (ADF) members.

The games' Sydney ambassador, Paralympic gold medallist Curtis McGrath, said the event was particularly significant for his friends and family.

"The people that are right next to you going through the rehabilitation, helping you into your wheelchair... having them included in this amazing event is also very important and it's great to have them along," he said.

The 28-year-old, who was injured by an improvised explosive device in Afghanistan in 2012, competed in the last two Invictus Games in London and Orlando, Florida.

"I've used the power of sport to help give me a purpose, give me goals so I can achieve things later on in life after my injury," he said.

It's likely Sydneysiders will get a glimpse of Prince Harry, who's attended the last two games.

Next year's event will take place in Toronto, Canada, where the royal bachelor's American girlfriend Meghan Markle resides.

The 2018 games in Sydney will run between October 18 and 29.


Share
2 min read

Published

Source: AAP


Share this with family and friends


Get SBS News daily and direct to your Inbox

Sign up now for the latest news from Australia and around the world direct to your inbox.

By subscribing, you agree to SBS’s terms of service and privacy policy including receiving email updates from SBS.

Download our apps
SBS News
SBS Audio
SBS On Demand

Listen to our podcasts
An overview of the day's top stories from SBS News
Interviews and feature reports from SBS News
Your daily ten minute finance and business news wrap with SBS Finance Editor Ricardo Gonçalves.
A daily five minute news wrap for English learners and people with disability
Get the latest with our News podcasts on your favourite podcast apps.

Watch on SBS
SBS World News

SBS World News

Take a global view with Australia's most comprehensive world news service
Watch the latest news videos from Australia and across the world