Invictus Games Foundation Expands Global Recovery Programmes with New Adventures and International Sport Initiatives

The Invictus Games Foundation is proud to announce a new series of approved activities under its Beyond the Games programme, further expanding its global reach and strengthening recovery opportunities for wounded, injured and sick service personnel and veterans worldwide.

Bringing together expertise from across the Invictus Community, the Programmes Advisory Board plays a vital role in ensuring that the Foundation’s support is directed towards initiatives that deliver meaningful, long term impact.

The latest approvals demonstrate our continued support for the Invictus Community in the Netherlands and Romania, helping where the need is great in Ukraine, and creating new and exciting opportunities for recovery through sport and challenge, including the ambitious Sahara Desert trek.

Sahara Desert Trek, Morocco

In Morocco, the Sahara Desert Trek will see a small international team take on a physically and mentally demanding 100 kilometre journey across five days, navigating dunes, dry riverbeds and remote terrain. Living under basic conditions and covering significant distances each day, participants will be pushed beyond their comfort zones in a setting that demands resilience and teamwork. Alongside the trek, the group will also connect with a local project supporting disabled young adults, adding a powerful cultural and social dimension to the experience.

Adaptive Golf Programme, Netherlands

In the Netherlands, an adaptive golf programme delivered in partnership with the On Course Foundation will introduce participants to the sport while laying the foundations for long term, sustainable delivery. The initiative goes beyond participation, equipping local coaches, organisations and participants with the knowledge to continue delivery independently, while also creating pathways into employment within the golf industry.

Base Sit Cup Sitting Volleyball Competition, Netherlands

Also in the Netherlands, the Base Sit Cup will bring together participants from across multiple nations for a regional event focused on physical rehabilitation, teamwork and social connection through sitting volleyball.

Rowing Camp and Heroes Half Marathon, Romania

In 2026, Romania is celebrating the 50th anniversary of the first-ever “perfect 10” in gymnastics, achieved by legendary gymnast Nadia Comăneci at the 1976 Montreal Olympic Games. To mark this milestone, the year has been officially designated “Anul Nadia Comăneci” (The Nadia Comăneci Year), featuring a nationwide programme of sporting, cultural, and educational events. As part of these celebrations, a rowing camp and the Heroes Half Marathon will connect sport, heritage, and international partnership. Participants will train and compete alongside peers from across Europe, including those from Ukraine, before coming together with a wider community of military and civilian participants for the Heroes Half Marathon. Taking place on Heroes Day, the event reinforces the role of sport in both recovery and remembrance while celebrating Romania’s rich sporting legacy.

Adaptive Multi Sport Training Camps, Ukraine

In Ukraine, adaptive multi sport training camps will be delivered as part of the Invictus Games Foundation’s Signature Programme for Ukraine. Building on previous support to the Come Back Alive Initiatives Centre, these camps will form part of the national adaptive sports cycle and will take place across central and western regions of the country.

Each camp will introduce around 50 wounded, injured and sick participants to adaptive sports such as wheelchair basketball, wheelchair rugby and sitting volleyball, with many engaging in sport for the first time as part of their recovery journey. Alongside the sporting activity, participants will also have access to physiotherapy, rehabilitation support and psychology sessions, creating a holistic, recovery focused environment.

These camps are designed not only to support immediate recovery, but to act as an entry point into longer term engagement, with participants able to progress into wider national events and ongoing programmes.

Alongside this, further activity delivered with partners in Ukraine will focus on strengthening the wider recovery ecosystem. This includes regional Invictus Days designed to engage new participants at a community level, the provision of adaptive sports equipment to meet growing demand, and research to better understand and address barriers to participation in sport. Together, these efforts aim to build capacity, expand access and ensure that programmes are informed by evidence and shaped for long term impact.

Together, these initiatives highlight the breadth of the Foundation’s approach, combining physical challenge, skill development and community connection. By supporting programmes that are locally led and internationally connected, the Programmes Advisory Board ensures that each activity contributes to a wider ecosystem of recovery, enabling participants not only to rebuild, but to thrive.

Adaptive Multi Sport Training Camps, Ukraine What is the Programmes Advisory Board?

The Programmes Advisory Board supports the Board of Trustees and the Executive by providing guidance, oversight, and objective appraisal for IGF programmes and initiatives both during and beyond the Invictus Games. The Board reviews and approves grant proposals, advises on effective delivery and strategic planning, and ensures activities align with the Foundation’s global reach and support for the international WIS community. Acting as ambassadors for the Foundation, the Board also helps identify new recovery opportunities, sports initiatives, and fundraising activities to grow the Invictus Movement worldwide.