Korea Celebrates 60 Years of Recovery Through Sport as Three-Year Countdown to Invictus Games Daejeon 2029 Begins

The Invictus Games Foundation celebrates the Republic of Korea's remarkable sporting heritage, with a special message from Founding Patron Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, and the official launch of preparations for the first Invictus Games in Asia.

The Republic of Korea has recently celebrated a remarkable milestone in its commitment to wounded, injured and sick service personnel and veterans, as the 60th National Disabled Veterans Sports Festival brought together 2,000 members of the community in a celebration of sport, recovery and resilience.

Held in the city Suwon from 13–15 October 2026, the Festival marked six decades of supporting the recovery and rehabilitation of those who have served through the transformative power of sport.

The Festival also came at a particularly exciting moment for the Invictus Movement, with the event coinciding with the three years to go celebration event until the Invictus Games Daejeon 2029, the first Invictus Games to be held on the Asian continent.

The celebration event for Invictus Games Daejeon 2029 was held on 17 October at the Circular Lawn Plaza of Hanbat Arboretum in Daejeon, bringing together representatives from the Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs, Daejeon Metropolitan City, the Korea Disabled Veterans Organization, the Invictus Games Foundation and the veterans community.

The event featured a performance by the Republic of Korea Air Force Honor Guard, a choir performance by Harmonize, an official host city declaration marked by a ceremonial drum beating, and a drone show celebrating Daejeon's role as the first Asian host city of the Invictus Games.

The ceremony concluded with a special performance by Korean band N.Flying, while interactive sport experiences allowed members of the public to try Invictus Games sports including indoor rowing, cycling and powerlifting.

Chairman Yoo Eul-sang of the Korean Disabled Veteran Organisation (KDVO) said: “The Invictus Games are about more than remembering what they have given. They are about recognising the courage it takes to stand up again, honouring that service with the respect it deserves, and standing beside those who are ready to begin again.”

“I hope the Invictus Games Daejeon 2029 will be more than an international sporting event held in Daejeon. I hope it will give all of us an opportunity to think about how we remember those who have served, how we support those who are rebuilding their lives, and how we stand together as a community.”

“In 2029, heroes who have served their countries, together with their families, will come from around the world to this city of Daejeon,” he said.

To mark this historic anniversary, Prince Harry, The Duke of Sussex, Founding Patron of the Invictus Games Foundation, shared a special video message which was played during the Festival's opening ceremony.

Addressing the 2,000 members of the wounded, injured and sick service community and their supporters, The Duke recognised the Republic of Korea's extraordinary 60-year history of supporting recovery through sport.

He encouraged everyone taking part, whether continuing their own recovery journey, supporting a loved one or preparing for their next sporting challenge, to embrace the opportunity and use the Festival as motivation for what comes next.

The message reflected the shared values that unite the Korean wounded, injured and sick service community with the wider Invictus Movement: the belief that sport can inspire recovery, restore confidence, create lasting connections and open doors to new possibilities.

The celebrations continued on 17 October in Daejeon, where the city and the Republic of Korea's Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs officially marked the beginning of preparations for the Invictus Games Daejeon 2029.

The launch event, held at Hanbat Arboretum, brought together representatives of the host city, government, veterans' community and the Invictus Games Foundation to celebrate the journey ahead.

With three years remaining until the Games, the occasion marked an exciting new chapter for the Invictus Movement.

Deputy CEO of the Invictus Games Foundation, Richard Smith CBE said: “As we prepare to bring the Invictus community to East Asia for the first time, we have been inspired by the Republic of Korea's strong sense of community and commitment to those who have served. From the KDVO Sports Festival to the Three Years To Go celebrations, we have seen tremendous momentum building towards Daejeon 2029 and a real opportunity to create a lasting legacy for the Invictus community.”

About the National Disabled Veterans Sports Festival

First held in 1967, the Festival originally focused on spinal cord injuries. Now known as the National Disabled Veterans Sports Festival, it provides sporting opportunities for wounded and injured veterans in the Republic of Korea.

This year's anniversary Festival featured a range of sports, including archery, shooting and lawn bowling, bringing the community together in a spirit of camaraderie and determination.

The Republic of Korea has long recognised these benefits, and its 60-year commitment provides a powerful foundation for the next chapter of the Invictus Movement in Asia.

About the Invictus Games Daejeon 2029

Since their inception in London in 2014, the Invictus Games have brought together wounded, injured and sick service personnel and veterans from around the world, using the power of sport to support recovery and rehabilitation.

The Republic of Korea has been part of that international community since making its Invictus Games debut at The Hague 2020, held in 2022.

Daejeon secured the right to host the Invictus Games 2029 this year, becoming the first city in Asia to stage the Games and marking a significant milestone for both the Republic of Korea and the global Invictus Community.

As the first Asian host nation, the Republic of Korea has an extraordinary opportunity to build on its sporting heritage, strengthen international connections and introduce the Invictus Movement to new audiences across the region.

The journey towards 2029 is about much more than preparing for a week of sporting competition. It is an opportunity to champion the ongoing recovery of wounded, injured and sick service personnel and veterans, celebrate the essential role of families and friends, and create a legacy that extends well beyond the Games themselves.

Both the Festival and the Invictus Games celebrate the determination of those who have served, the strength of the communities supporting them, and the role that sport can play in helping individuals rediscover what is possible.

As preparations gather momentum towards 2029, the Invictus Games Foundation looks forward to working alongside its partners in the Republic of Korea to build on this extraordinary legacy.

To everyone who participated in the 60th National Disabled Veterans Sports Festival, and to the families, friends, volunteers and organisations who made it possible: congratulations on this remarkable anniversary.