Representatives from Team Australia, delivered in partnership by the Australian Defence Force (ADF) and Invictus Australia (IA) touched down in snowy Whistler for a Participating Nations Training Camp to mark the 12-month countdown until the Games.  

Team managers, coaches and wounded, injured and ill veterans from 19 participating nations travelled to Canada for the opportunity to experience and learn about the new winter adaptive sports that will be part of the first summer/winter hybrid Games.  

Held at world class winter-sports facilities, the attendees learnt about Alpine Skiing, Skeleton, Snowboarding, Nordic Skiing and Biathlon, attended peer-learning workshops  and experienced expert instruction from the Whistler Adaptive Sports Program to help prepare their nations for the new winter sports. 

As part of the development camp activities the Four Host First Nations, military families, partners, and supporters including Foundation Patron Prince Harry, The Duke of Sussex and Meghan, The Duchess of Sussex headed to Whistler,  to celebrate the milestone and connect before the 2025 Games, slated to take place next February 8^th – 16th. 

Nations soar in canada

On the ground supporting Team Australia,  were Invictus Australia’s Director Teams, Pathways and Alumni Adam Pine OAM OLY and Manager, Veteran Teams and Events Anne Rutlidge. Team Australia Assistant Head Coach Tony Sten also attended, along with ADF Adaptive Sport Program staff.  

Tony competed in the Invictus Games Toronto 2017 and Sydney 2018 and is now in a coaching role, committing himself to helping others with their recovery through sport. 

Despite never seeing snow before this trip, Tony broke exciting ground – he was the only skeleton participant to surpass the highly regarded 100km barrier, travelling at a top speed of 100.4km. 

Pine said this camp was an invaluable opportunity for Team Australia to ready themselves for the upcoming Summer/Winter Hybrid Games.  

“While Australia has attended overseas winter activities with competitors previously, this is the first time we have attended with coaches and staff with the objective to learn how to introduce winter adaptive sports to our camps and work to prepare competitors for the winter activities. 

The winter training camp has given us a good understanding of the introduction of adaptions and the categories and events that will be conducted at IG25. Even though Australia will have many competitors that have never seen snow, we are confident we will have some competitors ‘giving it a go’ and learning from the challenges these new sports offer. 

The inclusion of winter sports also exposes all the team to the benefits of the outdoor winter environment. Vancouver and Whistler are very scenic venues and being in this environment will be a positive for so many of our competitors on their journey. They will interact in a positive and supportive environment and learn with many other veterans from around the globe. Invictus Games Vancouver Whistler 2025 will play a huge part in the recovery journey of all those selected to attend,” he continued. 

The group left the camp energised by the excitement of the camp and ready to share their newly acquired skills and knowledge of winter sports ahead of team selection and  training.  

ABOUT the invictus games vancouver whistler 2025

The Invictus Games Vancouver Whistler 2025, scheduled from 8 to 16 February, will unite up to 500 wounded, injured, and sick current and former serving nations veterans from up 25 nations in a celebration of resilience, courage, and triumph. 

For the first time, the Games will feature winter adaptive sports, with competitors being able to compete in Alpine Skiing, Biathlon, Nordic Skiing, Skeleton, Snowboarding and Wheelchair Curling alongside the returning core sports of Indoor Rowing, Sitting Volleyball, Swimming, Wheelchair Basketball and Wheelchair Rugby.  

In collaboration with the First Nations and indigenous communities of Canada, the Games strive to honor the ancestral lands and traditions upon which they are held. By embracing diversity, fostering reconciliation, and promoting inclusivity, the Invictus Games Vancouver Whistler 2025 exemplifies the transformative power of sport for veteran’s recovery.

Invictus Australia partners with the Australian Defence Force on the Adaptive Sport Program, to deliver Team Australia for each Invictus Games and Warrior Games. With competitor selection at its early stages, keep up to date with Team Australia’s journey to the Invictus Games Vancouver Whistler 2025 via our social media. 

About Invictus Australia: Invictus Australia encourages veterans and their families to connect and engage with their communities through sport. Whether participating or volunteering at grassroots level, to competing internationally at an Invictus or Warrior Games, Invictus Australia leverages the power of sport to proactively foster good health and aid in recovery, rehabilitation and reintegration. Invictus Australia promotes the physical, social and emotional benefits of sport for all, and shine a light on the unique needs of younger veterans, particularly the challenges associated with transitioning from military to civilian life.