Daejeon to Host 2029 Invictus Games, First in Asia

South Korea will become the first Asian nation to host the Invictus Games, an international sporting event for wounded, injured, and sick servicemen and women, in 2029.

The Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs announced that the UK-based Invictus Games Foundation unanimously decided during a board meeting today (July 20) to select Daejeon, South Korea, as the host city for the 9th Invictus Games, scheduled for October 2029.

The foundation explained its decision by praising South Korea's level of preparation, stating, "We positively evaluated the systematic approach to event preparation, based on a close cooperative system between the central government, local government, and the veteran community, all united under the common goal of recovery and rehabilitation for wounded veterans."

The foundation added, "We expect that South Korea's cultural influence and the symbolism of being the first host in Asia will lead to a new leap forward for the Invictus Games and expand participation across the Asian region."

The Invictus Games were established in 2014 by Prince Harry of the United Kingdom to support the physical, psychological, and social recovery and rehabilitation of wounded veterans through sports.

The 2029 event is expected to bring approximately 3,000 people to Daejeon, including some 550 wounded veteran athletes from 26 countries and about 1,100 family members.

The Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs expressed its intent to host the 2029 games following the 2023 event in Düsseldorf, Germany. In December of last year, Daejeon was selected as one of three final candidate cities, alongside San Diego in the United States and Aalborg in Denmark.

The selection process included an on-site inspection in February of this year, the submission of a bid application in May, and a competitive presentation last month.

Minister of Patriots and Veterans Affairs Kwon O-eul and other officials personally participated in the competitive presentation held in London to explain South Korea's commitment and capacity to host the event.

The government reportedly emphasized the justification for hosting the games in Daejeon, focusing heavily on the fact that it would be the first time the event is held in Asia.

Since its inception in London in 2014, the Invictus Games have only been held in North America (the U.S. and Canada), Europe (Germany and the Netherlands), and Australia.

The upcoming 2027 games are set to be hosted by Birmingham, United Kingdom.

During a press conference in May, Minister Kwon stated, "We are emphasizing that holding the games in Asia for the first time will serve as an opportunity for the Invictus Games to expand globally."

(Photo courtesy of the Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs, Yonhap News)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.