Harry Congratulates Birmingham for 2027 Invictus

[TicTacToes]

www.theguardian.com/uk-news/article/2024/jul/23/prince-harry-hails-birminghams-winning-bid-to-host-invictus-games

Yay. 😍

Perhaps someone did?

At the moment, not having an American audience might be a plus point.

An on cue, Meghan organises a pap walk to take the focus away from the announcement.

👍

Lord Allen, Chair of the Invictus Games Foundation, said,“Congratulations to Birmingham! The Trustees were very taken by the depth of passion in the bidding team, the experience they brought to the planning and preparations and to the concept of the NEC as a one-site Games. Our thanks go to the team behind the Washington DC bid who were able to demonstrate the city could be a fantastic location for the future. As the Foundation looks to the next ten years, we’re excited about the Games pipeline we are building, and for the next ten years of Invictus!”

sussex.com/invictus-games-birmingham-2027/

It is going to be a flipping nightmare - the press will go berserk. Three years though- William could be King by then. The Wales children will be in their teens. Meghan will be three years older. Will they bring the Prince and Princess?

Will the royal be present may disappear into insignificance when the question in asked will the Israeli soldiers participate. The royal could to avoid stepping on toes do something within the British Legion to show support for the Invictus athletes. I really thought Washington was going to get it.

I suspect the university is involved, they had a lot of input into the commonwealth games. Outside of term time they have the accommodation needed (and building an accessible block would benefit future students too) the mod and various charities fund too.

As far as cost to the mod it will mostly be releasing current personnel from duties so they can steward etc, the cost will be travel and accommodation not wages as they are paid them regardless, just like at Wimbledon, football finals etc when you see uniformed service personnel. My dc has done some, bit of a perk for serving your country

I predict Invictus will have a new Patron by 2027. The Board must see now that Harry is undermining the cause, and support for it, because of family stuff. And he doesn't bring any financial benefit to the charity either.

He was a good fit while a working member of the RF, with grey suits to manage the interface between him and the charity.

Service personnel are paid by taxpayers. So taxpayers are still paying regardless.

Well yes, but they are not paid extra by the tax payer. Invictus will have to pay travel etc. I don’t begrudge service personnel a bit of a jolly now and then 😆

I predict Invictus will have a new Patron by 2027

That would certainly solve a lot of issues; I'd say Invictus would risk losing some of its profile except I'm not sure Harry's involvement is a positive any more

Overall it's good to see the UK hosting something so worthwhile, though it's true that the money's a worry

Good luck with the FoI suggestions around funding and expenses though; if Harry is still involved I can't see him appreciating that

... the press will go berserk

True, but then that's the fault of the press
Just so long as H&M don't use it as a personal opportunity and invent "offences" in pursuit of more stories to tell for the ££££ - or must I be joking?

Invictus will have to pay travel. Who is paying Invictus? The taxpayer! If it’s not Birmingham then it’s the rest of us via central government under whatever this new arrangement will be. I don’t mind service personnel being involved at all (they should be), but let’s not pretend Invictus has some mysterious funding source all of its own. Apart from a paltry amount of money they raise themselves (and half of that seems to come from the royal foundation) it’s down to the hosting state to pay for this. Which is why there needs to be utmost transparency about what we are paying for. What I don’t like is Invictus getting the money and then the relevant nitty gritty being out of public reach. If they have modelled and costed the games to get their government funding, including appearance fees and expenses of high profile supporters, then that information should be available through the relevant govt departments (presumably culture &sports and/or defence).

Apart from a paltry amount of money they raise themselves (and half of that seems to come from the royal foundation) it’s down to the hosting state to pay for this. Which is why there needs to be utmost transparency about what we are paying for

I agree completely, Mymilkshake, but given the state of mind Harry's demonstrating it wouldn't take much enquiry - however justified - for him to start carrying on about "attacks"

And that could detract yet again from what it's supposed to be about

Amen!

We're always being told that the Britsh Press/Murdoch have it in for H&M but on the real issues - e.g. charity grift, African Parks, the visa thing - they still back right off. I think it will be the same with Birmingham, none of them will push the issue of who is getting paid to attend, and how much

They will most definitely seek out as much press coverage as possible. Even if it's a bit controversial - it's about keeping your profile high.

I’m hopeful things will be different by 2027, a lot can change in 3 years and by then he/they may not be the distraction that they are currently.

I agree with PP about transparency.
All concerned parties should be very transparent on costings etc and this information should be readily available to view.

The university is experiencing serious financial problems.

Oh fgs it'll be the Harry show again.

Great for service men and women to take part in sports but let's hope H sits this one out. Surely, surely they don't need him to raise any more awareness. He brings all the wrong kind of attention.

I've got a suggestion for a new Patron. Johnson Beharry VC. I know he has his own charitable enterprises, but it's not like Harry is devoting every moment to Invictus.

Yes! He would be excellent. No, I don't think it's a full time job.

The whole focus will be on H and will he or won't he see his UK family. It's like a non stop soap opera. So degrading for the vets to be in amongst it.

I agree completely about transparency. It would be nice if there was enough sponsorship or whatever to pay for the games, but I agree it’s unlikely 🤷‍♀️. I would also like to know about the nitty gritty. And if Harry does put in an appearance I cannot imagine he would be funding himself. His trouser pockets seem to be sewn shut 🙄😆