The Invictus Games Foundation Travels to Poland to Remark on The Success of the Polish Nation's Recovery Centre
The Veteran's Centre for Activities Outside State Borders in Poland, the organisation responsible for delivering Team Poland to the Invictus Games has celebrated its tenth anniversary with an international conference featuring the Invictus Games Foundation.
The two-day conference entitled "Veterans Are Among Us - Support Systems in Poland and the World,” was attended by numerous international organisations focused on improving the lives of the WIS community such as the Fisher House Foundation and companies who place an emphasis on empowering veterans such as Boeing.
The aim of the conference was to exchange “experiences and best practices, but also reflect on the needs for improving solutions to help veterans and their families”.
The Invictus Games Foundation was the featured topic of the last panel on Day 2, with the discussion focusing on the transformative power of sport for recovery that comes with participation at an Invictus Games.
The panel was moderated by Olympic fencer Aleksandra Shelton and featured Dominic Reid OBE, CEO of the Invictus Games Foundation, Peter Lawless, Canadian Paralympic Committee, and Edwin de Wolf, Team Manager of the Invictus Team Netherlands.
The panel discussed the reluctance of many veterans to seek crucial medical and psychological support and how sport can be a catalyst that allows injured service personnel to turn their lives around and achieve sustainable life-long recovery. They highlighted the catalysing effect of the establishment of the Veterans’ Centre in Poland in shaping national support for veterans. Through the depth and span of its international community, the panel reflected on the power of the Invictus movement to change attitudes towards disability and promote a greater understanding and recognition of wounded, injured or sick service members and their families in their respective countries.
“It was a privilege to be asked to help mark and celebrate the foundation of the Veterans’ Centre in Poland, Dominic Reid OBE said.
"The event provided a very useful forum for discussion. And it became clear to me as the panels unfolded, how important it is for all of us to work together to build a trans-national and thoroughly 21st century approach to veteran care in the current geopolitical environment. I applaud the Centre and wish it every continued success,” he said.
Edwin de Wolf, spoke on the pivotal role of family during the recovery process and emphasised the indispensable importance of the Family & Friends programme at the Invictus Games.
Dominic closed the panel by touching on the continued demand for veteran recovery programmes and how the Invictus Games Foundation, also celebrating it’s tenth anniversary, will continue to play a pivotal role in healing the international service community.
During the anniversary celebration, Polish soldiers and support personnel were honoured with medals, while individuals pivotal to the establishment of the Veteran Centre received dedicated statuettes and commemorative medals.
About Team Poland at the Invictus Games
The Polish Armed Forces have approximately 130,000 active personnel across five service branches.
Team Poland made their debut at the Invictus Games Sydney 2018 and have appeared at The Hague 2020 and Düsseldorf 2023.
The Polish team is incredibly passionate about Sitting Volleyball and have taken the gold medal in the event at The Hague 2020 and Düsseldorf 2023.
You can read more about Team Poland here.