Veterans come together for Invictus Games Birmingham 2027 Selection Camp

The road to the Invictus Games Birmingham 2027 reached an important milestone when current and former serving personnel from across Australia came together for Team Australia’s selection camp. 

Across the camp, they explored different sports, learnt about the demands of the Adaptive Sports Program and trained alongside others with their own experiences of service, injury and recovery. 

A selection camp naturally raises one question: who will make the team? 

But in this environment, that is not the only measure of its value. 

While the camp played an important role in selecting Team Australia, it also created opportunities for competitors to challenge themselves, connect with others and experience the value of training as part of a wider community. 

These moments help explain why the impact of the journey towards the Invictus Games Birmingham 2027 may extend beyond the people ultimately selected. 

A different kind of sporting trial 

Selection for Team Australia is not determined by sporting performance alone. The process also considers each person’s individual circumstances, recovery goals, readiness to commit to the Adaptive Sports Program and the potential value of the journey ahead. 

Invictus Australia Director of Teams and Events Adam Pine said the camp allowed competitors and staff to better understand where each person was starting from and what they hoped to gain from the program. 

“The selection camp is not only about what someone can do in a particular sport on a particular day,” Adam said. 

“It gives us an opportunity to understand the individual, how they respond to challenges, how they engage with the people around them and what participating in the broader program could mean for them.” 

The value of training together 

Research from across the international Invictus community supports this broader view of the journey. 

Beyond the Finish Line, a five-year international research study, examined the longer-term physical, psychological and social impacts of competitive adaptive sport for wounded, injured and ill serving personnel and veterans. 

The research found that those who competed at an Invictus Games generally experienced stronger health and wellbeing outcomes than those who did not compete. 

Importantly, however, it also identified benefits for people who trained as part of an Invictus program but did not ultimately progress to competition.  

Access to training camps, selection trials and other sporting opportunities gave participants the chance to work towards personal goals, take on new challenges and build connections within the wider Invictus community. 

The selection camp is therefore not simply a gateway to the Invictus Games Birmingham 2027. It is also an opportunity for a wider group of current and former serving personnel to experience what sport, shared challenge and connection could contribute to the next stage of their lives. 

Arriving as competitors, supporting one another 

That sense of shared effort was visible throughout the camp. 

Although competitors were participating in a selection process for a limited number of Team Australia positions, the environment was not defined solely by competition. Competitors encouraged one another to try unfamiliar sports, shared advice and adaptations, and supported others when an activity became difficult. 

Research into veteran participation in group-based sport has highlighted the potential importance of these experiences. Sport can provide opportunities to rebuild social connections, rediscover a sense of shared purpose and establish belonging beyond service. 

A single camp cannot guarantee these outcomes. It can, however, create the conditions in which new connections are formed, confidence can begin to grow and a different relationship with sport may develop. Invictus Australia’s local engagement team ensures these conditions are present when they arrive home in their communities, with sporting opportunities in their local area.  

Giving back through sport 

Many of the camp’s coaches were Team Australia alumni, using their experience to support the next group of competitors. 

Research has found that veterans can also gain purpose, belonging and connection through volunteer roles built around teamwork and a shared goal. For alumni coaches, the camp provided an opportunity to remain connected to sport while helping others navigate their own recovery journey. 

Doug Griffiths, captain of Team Australia at the Invictus Games Vancouver Whistler 2025, said returning in a coaching role was a privilege. 

“These last few days, I have had the opportunity to test myself by doing a few things that spark joy, with some wonderful people on a very special journey,” Doug said.  

Beyond the final team 

With the selection camp now complete, competitors will move through the next stage of the Team Australia selection process. 

Not everyone who attended will be selected, however, non-selection should not mean the opportunity to benefit from sport comes to an end. 

One of the key lessons from the Beyond the Finish Line report is the importance of supporting people beyond the final competitive team. Training and sporting opportunities between Games can continue to offer challenge, community and connection, including for those who do not progress to competition. 

This aligns with Invictus Australia’s broader role: helping current and former serving veterans and their families find meaningful and sustainable ways to participate in sport and recreation.  

The final Team Australia will be one important outcome of the selection camp. But the connections that began as competitors trained, adapted and supported one another demonstrate why the impact of the Invictus journey can extend well beyond the people who ultimately reach the Games. 

About the Invictus Games Birmingham 2027 

The Invictus Games Birmingham 2027 will take place from 10 to 17 July 2027, bringing together around 550 wounded, injured and sick serving personnel and veterans from more than 20 nations. 

Competitors will take part in adaptive sports like archery, athletics, cycling, esports, indoor rowing, laser run, pickleball, powerlifting, sitting volleyball, swimming, wheelchair basketball and wheelchair rugby. 

The Games use the power of sport to support recovery and rehabilitation, while recognising the important role family and friends play throughout each competitor’s journey. 

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