Israel has been invited to compete in next year's Invictus Games in Düsseldorf, Germany.
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The Invictus Games is a multi-sport event for wounded, injured, or sick armed service personnel and veterans founded by Britain's Prince Harry in 2014. Twenty-one nations are invited to attend the next Invictus Games to be held in September 2023.
In addition to Israel, Colombia and Nigeria have also been recently admitted to the Invictus Community of Nations.
"As the community continues to grow beyond the Games, I'm excited to be exploring additional programs of activity to allow even more nations to benefit from Invictus," said Dominic Reid, CEO of the Invictus Games Foundation, upon announcing the news. "Israel has a long-standing respect for the power of sport in recovery, and I'm pleased they are joining our wider community this year."
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German Minister of Defense Christine Lambrecht also welcomed Israel's participation, saying, "The Invictus Games are a unique international sports festival promoting diversity, friendship, and mutual exchange. Israel and Germany are bound by close friendship and Israel's participation is going to underline that special relationship between our two nations."
The Defense Ministry's Rehabilitation Division and the IDF Disabled Veterans Organization will lead the Israeli delegation.
Edan Kleiman, chairman of the IDF Disabled Veterans Organization, noted that "wounded Israeli servicemen and women – shining examples of perseverance in rehabilitation and excellence in sports – will continue to honorably represent Israel at the Invictus Games. We witness daily the important role that sport plays in strengthening not only the body but the spirit, enabling people to regain their lives. No less important is the wonderful opportunity to bring together wounded war veterans from other countries to form lifelong bonds of camaraderie."
Reprinted with permission from JNS.org.
