With one year to go until Whistler and Vancouver host the 2025 Invictus Games, athletes are in Whistler training for the big event.
And on Feb. 14, they were joined by The Duke and Duchess of Sussex—Prince Harry and Meghan Markle.
"Close to 60 participants from 19 nations hit the slopes at Whistler Blackcomb to learn about and experience alpine skiing and snowboarding," the Invictus Games said in a release. "The participants, who spent most of the day testing out their skills of sit-skiing, skiing and snowboarding, were later joined by The Duke and Duchess of Sussex. The Duke and Duchess joined the participants to learn more about the new winter sports that are coming to Invictus Games Vancouver Whistler 2025 for the first time."
Up to 550 competitors from up to 25 nations will compete in next year's event, but with this being the first time it features winter sports, many athletes are taking on new challenges.
New winter sports at the event include alpine skiing, biathlon, Nordic skiing, skeleton, snowboarding, and wheelchair curling, in addition to the core sports of indoor rowing, sitting volleyball, swimming, wheelchair basketball and wheelchair rugby.
Call for volunteers
The Games are also seeking volunteers, which it says will play a huge role "in the success of the delivery of the Invictus Games Vancouver Whistler 2025, and the shared journey of recovery for competitors and their family and friends," the release said. "This week, as part of the One Year To Go celebrations, we launched our volunteer recruitment for the 1,600 Games-time roles needed from Feb. 8 to 16, 2025. For more information, visit https://invictusgames2025.ca/support-us#volunteer.
