It’s been a big decade (and a bit) for sports in the UK. First we hosted the 2012 Olympics, then the 2014 and 2022 Commonwealth games. Soon, yet another tournament will reach our shores, as Birmingham has won its bid to host the 2027 Invictus games.
Founded a decade ago by Prince Harry, the Invictus Games are held every second year for injured and sick military workers. They haven’t been held in the UK since the inaugural event in 2014, but after beating out Washington DC, Birmingham is set to be the next UK city to host.
Prince Harry voiced his support for the decision, stating that ‘[the] city’s strong ties to the armed forces community made it a formidable contender from the very start.
‘We have no doubt the people of Birmingham will join in celebrating the unwavering respect and admiration we have for our veteran and service community, showing the world how their courage ignites hope and unites us all.’
The bid in question was backed by the UK Government, and based largely on Birmingham’s Queen Elizabeth hospital which specialises in treating military casualties and plays host to the Royal College of Defence Medicine. These connections made it a perfect place to celebrate those injured in conflict.
Current plans are to host the games at the National Exhibition Centre, and according to the team behind it there is ‘central government funding’ from Westminster, meaning that the currently-struggling city council won’t have to bear the financial burden of hosting.
Now that Brum has received the greenlight, the city will begin preparations. Good luck, Birmingham! Your gracious hospitality will not only inspire anyone who has been injured while working as part of the army, it might actually bring Harry and Megan back to the UK for a bit. Now that is uniting the people.
Best of Birmingham
Don’t wait until 2027 to visit the UK’s second largest city. There’s plenty to do there already, including some great restaurants, classic pubs, and unique art galleries.
Here’s how to watch the Paris 2024 Olympics in the UK for free, including channel and schedule.
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