Invictus Germany enters the first round - what is now known

DÜSSELDORF

Invictus Germany enters the first round - what is now known

June 2024

©IG23

June 2024: Düsseldorf, June 2024: The highly emotional Invictus Games sporting event shaped Düsseldorf's 2023 city calendar. At the closing press conference, it was surprisingly announced that Invictus Germany would be founded, a sports festival that would be organised by the city's subsidiary D.LIVE GmbH & Co. KG. The first Invictus Germany games will now take place from 26 to 28 July at Castello, the home of SG ART Giants Düsseldorf, in Reisholz. Although Düsseldorf is currently dominated by the UEFA EURO, further details have now been announced.

A celebration of international understanding

The Invictus Games 2023 in Düsseldorf, a sports festival for veterans from all over the world, initiated by Prince Harry, were the biggest games in their history. The organisers' own description of the event as a celebration of international unity cannot be denied. In addition to Prince Harry and Meghan Duchess of Sussex themselves, German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier, Defence Minister Boris Pistorius and many foreign guests of state were also present. The games, which focused on the fates of the veterans and their families, had emotionalised the population. At the end, the Lord Mayor announced that he did not want the Games to end here and now and announced the founding of the Invictus Germany initiative.

What has now become known

To coincide with the first sporting competitions from 26 to 28 July 2024, a symposium on "Inclusion and Rehabilitation" will be held to bring together political and military decision-makers, doctors, experts and church representatives for an exchange of ideas. One important difference to the Invictus Games is that blue-light organisations will also be taking part in the German version.

As D.LIVE Sports Manager Tobias Kemberg told us in an interview, Invictus Germany is a licensed organisation of the Invictus Games Foundation and representatives of the IGF are expected at the Invictus Germany Sports Festival on 26 and 28 July. According to Kemberg, the Bundeswehr is providing a German team of 43 participants and is also co-organising the symposium.

Will there be a reunion with the athletes from the 2023 Games?

Tobias Kemberg: "As things stand at the moment, a team from Germany, Estonia, Great Britain, Belgium, the Netherlands, Ukraine, Poland and members of the German blue light organisations will be taking part. There will also be participants who took part in the Invictus Games Düsseldorf 2023 or earlier games."

Will Prince Harry be there again?

D.LIVE could not confirm whether state guests or even Prince Harry will be back in Düsseldorf.

What is the symposium about?

"The symposium will focus on the topic of "Inclusion and Rehabilitation". The symposium will bring together political and military decision-makers, medical professionals, experts, church representatives and stakeholders to share expertise. The focus will not only be on best practice, but also on innovative solutions to support the treatment, rehabilitation and reintegration of wounded, injured and sick soldiers," says Tobias Kemberg in the interview.

As things stand at the moment, around 2000 spectators are expected. As with the Invictus Games 2023, admission to the sports competitions is free. Interested parties can register free of charge via the website.

More information can be found at

https://www.invictusgermany.de/invictus-germany-2024

From left: Brigadier General Alfred Marstaller, Lord Mayor Dr Stephan Keller, Duke of Sussex, Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, Siemtje Möller, Parliamentary State Secretary at the Ministry of Defence and Lieutenant General Markus Laubenthal. ©IG23

Prince Harry and Meghan, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, visited the state capital Düsseldorf for the first time on 6 September 2022, one year before the Games. ©IG23