Invictus Games The Hague 2020 postponed amidst COVID-19 outbreak

The Board of the Invictus Games The Hague 2020, along with the Invictus Games Foundation, has decided to cancel current plans for the Invictus Games The Hague 2020 in light of the Coronavirus Covid-19 pandemic. The event can no longer take place as planned from 9 to 16 May 2020.

However, the organizers are currently investigating all options to reschedule, subject to the availability of key facilities and resources, to May or June 2021.

Mart de Kruif, Chairman of the Invictus Games the Hague 2020, has said, “The Coronavirus and its effects are part of a global pandemic which will influence every public event in the foreseeable future. Therefore, we find ourselves in a clear situation which left us no other choice than to reschedule the Invictus Games to the year 2021. By doing this, we also bring clarity to those vulnerable competitors and their loved ones, a clarity which is so desperately needed in their journey to recovery.”

Participating nations’ teams were consulted prior to coming to a decision, as well as local and national authorities, in order to limit the impact of the pandemic on all parties involved.

The decision was also made considering the anticipated strain on medical staff in dealing with the pandemic.

Those competing from the 20 nations involved have been training for the Invictus Games as part of their recovery process. However, organizers have decided that the safety and wellbeing of these wounded, injured, or sick Servicemen and women, and their friends and family, is paramount.

Prince Harry, the royal patron of the annual Invictus Games, uploaded a personal video message on the Invictus Games’ YouTube channel.

“As you’ve all now heard, sadly, we’ve had to postpone the Invictus Games and move it to 2021. This was an incredibly difficult decision for all of us to have to make, and I’m so grateful for everybody that’s worked so hard the last few weeks to find an alternative to try and carry out these games,” he explained. “This decision was the most sensible and the safest option for all of you, for your families, and everybody else involved in these games.”

Tickets will be refunded, with ticket holders being contacted in due course.