Three cities have been named as finalists to stage the 2029 Invictus Games, the foundation behind the biennial sporting event revealed on Wednesday.
Aalborg in Denmark, the South Korean city of Daejeon, and San Diego in the United States are now competing to secure hosting rights for the competition.
The games, established by Prince Harry in 2014, bring together wounded, injured and sick military personnel and veterans from around the world to compete in adaptive sports.
The event serves as a platform for the recovery and rehabilitation of service members who have suffered physical or psychological harm during their military careers.
The Invictus Games have announced the shortlist for the 2029 games
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The selection process involved a thorough evaluation examining multiple factors, including vision and legacy, operational capabilities, sporting delivery, accessibility, sustainability measures, governance structures, and financial stability.
Organisers also assessed each candidate's potential to contribute to the broader Invictus Movement's long-term development.
Several other locations had put forward proposals but were not selected for the final shortlist.
"The quality, ambition and heart shown across all the bids for the Invictus Games 2029 has been truly inspiring," Rob Owen, chief executive of the Invictus Games Foundation said.
He noted that the record number of applications demonstrated confidence in the Invictus Movement's future.
"Aalborg, Daejeon and San Diego each demonstrated not only the ability to deliver outstanding Games, but also a deep understanding of how Invictus can catalyse lasting systemic change for individuals, communities and societies," Mr Owen added.
Prince Harry has been running the Invictus Games since 2014
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He expressed gratitude towards Italy, Nigeria and Ukraine for their submissions, acknowledging that choosing between the bids had proved challenging given their exceptional quality.
The foundation confirmed that its connections with the unsuccessful bidding nations would continue through various programmes.
These include Nigeria's Armed Forces Invictus Centre and the Signature Programme for Ukraine, which aim to expand the movement's reach beyond any single host location.
"We now look forward to the next phase of assessment and collaboration as we work together to determine the best home for Invictus Games 2029," Mr Owen said.
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The Invictus Games will take place in Birmingham in 2027
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The winning city will be announced during summer 2026.
Before the 2029 edition takes place, Birmingham will first welcome competitors when it stages the games in 2027, having previously secured hosting rights for that year's event.
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