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

@smilesy sorry if that last post of mine sounded a bit terse. Not aimed at you. Just exasperated by the smoke and mirrors around Invictus. I have no doubt that some people will think ole sewn up kegs pays for it all himself!

I hope our other military charities aren’t leant on to pay towards it. It’s a lovely idea, but so many soldiers don’t even have the fundamentals to survive day to day. Pouring funds into the very very few who might compete would be wrong.

I wonder if they are eying up lottery funding as part of their “new model”. They massively support UK sport and culture. Again though, not on to be paying Harry’s security and accommodation demands from this money collected from the citizenry.

Good overview,

register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/charity-search/-/charity-details/5054988

No worries 😆

Yes a lot of partners for 2025 and it’ll be the same for 2027. Invictus is growing and has a sterling level of support across many platforms. I think you’ll find the attempts to sabotage Harry by utilising Invictus will tail off in the tabloids. Now that the UK will host it King Charles will more likely than not signal his support once again. As for William I don’t expect him to go anywhere near it. His ego won’t be able to stand it. 🤭

invictusgames2025.ca/partners/

I don’t think so, sounds harsh but without the Harry shenanigans surrounding Invictus it really only draws a very niche audience, without Harry it would be tumbleweed you only have to look at the wide angled shots of the “crowd” from last year’s games. That being said the Birmingham games will be well supported if the 2012 paralympics are anything to go by. Maybe Harry and Meghan will attend by Zoom, their faces on giant screens rather than attend the treacherous UK.

Tumbleweed for sure. Without him it would not have the profile it does.

No, indeed. The profile would instead be about the veterans.

But it might have raised abit more money and still have Germany on board.

I think they wanted to do this for 2024. It isn’t obligatory and I’ve no doubt countries will dip in and out. It’s not the para-olympics. It’s niche, nuanced and most people know about it because of Harry.

Yep , all of the above. Although, as Puzzled said, this is down to the press on whether they whip all of it up, which they will because it sells .

Wasn't Invictus doing ok before the Harry and Meghan shenanigans though ?

They hardly need to whip anything up. Those two are controversial and an absolute gift to the popular press.

If they cannot yet describe the funding model, that probably means it's still being hammered out.

But they wouldn't have awarded the IG if they did not have some level of confidence that it will work (it also suggests that other bidders did not have secured funding either).

If William attends he will be accused of muscling in on Harry’s patch.

Germany has a vision too within the Invictus family so there is going to be a diversity.

https://www.invictusgermany.de/en/about

Given that Harry and William have not had anything to do with each other for some time, it would be rather odd if William rocked up to Invictus. Nothing to do with his ego

I doubt very much that any of the RF would go, as they would not want to cause distraction, or provoke accusations of muscling in. This is a pretty normal way for the RF to go about things (not invariable, but exceptions are few)

The German Chancellor did attend the IG in Dusseldorf, not sure about other heads of state in earlier Games. So I think it would be quite reasonable to expect the Sec of State for Defence (plus other defence ministers, plus others with relevant sports and disability portfolios) to attend, and probably the PM too.

I’m hoping egos are put aside by all of them and that the family come together for the veterans. I don’t expect Meghan to attend as Harry needs to be seen doing what he always has done so no wife in tow. Personally, I don’t think she adds anything to it by her presence and she is too thin skinned to risk a new round of mocking by the tabloids on UK soil.

As a previous poster said a lot can change in 3 years, if the status quo remains I expect Princess Anne will take the hit and attend as the official representative, I doubt anyone else will attend, possibly the Tindalls as I think Mike may have a connection to Invictus.

As long as any money given by the UK goes to the veterans and the organisation, fine.

If it goes to Harry and Meghan's private jet/clothing/hotel bills, not fine.

Good old Anne, can always be relied on to take one for the team😂

I would suggest it's most unlikely that Anne will participate in this particular event.

Excellent post.

These are the rather pompous instructions on how to bid for the games lifted from the Invictus site. Harold might like to consider hiring a proof-reader too but that's an aside.

It looks as though the host venue is expected to deliver the moon on a stickcover a variety of costs. Full transparency on how this is to be achieved is a minimum.

https://invictusgames.sharepoint.com/sites/media/Shared%20Documents/Forms/AllItems.aspx?id=%2Fsites%2Fmedia%2FShared%20Documents%2FWebsite%20Documents%2F%5FInvictus%20Games%202027%5F%2Epdf&parent=%2Fsites%2Fmedia%2FShared%20Documents%2FWebsite%20Documents&p=true&ga=1

Harry is still a member of the RF, and this is very much his cause now. I don't think there's any particular need for further members of the RF to attend

I think there might be high level representation from other parts of the government though

Apparently, Harry is organising a month long trip to the UK to reconnect with friends and family, so all being well, they might be at the games yet!