Prince Harry's Invictus Games Foundation has announced that an unprecedented six nations have come forward with ambitions to host the 2029 Games.
Among those submitting a bid was Ukraine despite the ongoing conflict in the country.
The Invictus Games is an international multi-sport competition for wounded and sick veterans and currently serving military personnel.
Prince Harry serves as a founding patron of the games which debuted in 2014 and will next be held in Birmingham in 2027.
Ukraine is put in a bid to host Prince Harry's Invictus Games in 2029
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Despite what the Invictus Games describe “complex ongoing geopolitical challenges,” they add that Ukraine put forward a “compelling” case to host the games in the nation's capital, Kyiv.
Ukraine's entry emphasised Kyiv's experience hosting major international events and its commitment to developing innovative recovery services for its veteran population.
Natalyia Kalmykova, Ukraine Minister for Veterans Affairs, said: "Sport is a key function in veterans' healthcare.
“It's thanks to our relationship with Invictus that we established, and continue to develop, the role of sports in recovery in Ukraine and why it's included in the Veteran Policy Strategy,” she said.
The bid comes as Kyiv has sustained a further brutal Russian attack on Tuesday
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Ukraine remains embroiled in a bloody conflict with Russia, after Moscow launched a full scale invasion of the country in 2022.
The capital city has recently seen refreshed drone and missile barrages from Russia, with attacks on Tuesday claiming the lives of at least 14 people.
At least 139 people were also injured in the overnight attack that saw 440 drones and 32 missiles rain down on Kyiv, prompting the city’s mayor to declare Wednesday as a day of mourning.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said the strikes presented "one of the most terrifying attacks on Kyiv".
The latest bid from the embattled Eastern European nation is not the first time Prince Harry has been connected with Ukraine.
Ukraine has been embroiled in a bloody conflict since Russia's invasion in 2022
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In April this year, Harry travelled to meet wounded soldiers in the western Ukrainian city of Lviv.
Other nations have also come forward with bids.
Denmark, which has participated since the inaugural 2014 Games, proposed hosting in the town of Aalborg.
"In a world marked by uncertainty and confrontation, I believe that the Invictus Games represent a unifying force," said Troels Lund Poulsen, Denmark's Deputy Prime Minister.
Italy's bid envisiond a winter-summer hybrid format across the Veneto Region, including Verona, Padova and Cortina d'Ampezzo, with a closing ceremony in Venice. The proposal builds on the upcoming Vancouver Whistler 2025 format.
Harry is a founding patron of the Invictus Games
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Nigeria, which joined the Invictus community in 2023, aims to host Africa's first Games in Abuja. Plans include using Abuja Stadium and completing a new Armed Forces Invictus Centre.
South Korea submitted its official expression of interest during the Vancouver Whistler 2025 Games, with the Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs, Korea Disabled Veterans Organisation and Daejeon Metropolitan City backing the bid.
"If the Invictus Games are hosted for the first time in Asia, in Daejeon, the Republic of Korea's proven resilience, together with its deep respect for service members and veterans, would create an ideal setting to spread the Invictus Spirit across Asia and beyond," said Kang Jung-ai, Minister of Patriots and Veterans Affairs.
San Diego's proposal, supported by the city and the British American Business Council San Diego, aims to establish the Games as a model for global veteran wellness.
Proposed venues include the San Diego Convention Center and Petco Park.
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The next games are set to be held in 2027 in Birmingham
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Rob Owen OBE, CEO of the Invictus Games Foundation, expressed enthusiasm about the global response. "We are thrilled to have such interest, demonstrating a clear recognition of the powerful impact of hosting an Invictus Games, not only on the competitors themselves, but on those supporting, watching, and cheering on from the stands," he said.
Owen noted that the expressions of interest reflect the expanding reach of the movement. "These expressions of interests are also testament to the growing global impact of being part of the Invictus Movement.
"We look forward to working with each of these locations over the coming year to develop fuller propositions with the recovery of international wounded, injured and sick service personnel and veterans at their heart," he added.
The Foundation's Board of Trustees will now review and assess the proposals before proceeding to the Request for Proposal stage.
Shortlisting is expected later this year, with the selected host city to be announced in summer 2026.
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