The Invictus Games 2025 Vancouver Whistler (IG25) are officially in the books, and what a chapter they've been.
Twenty-three countries (including a pair of new nations) sent more than 500 athletes to British Columbia to partake in 11 adaptive sports, including the brand-new disciplines of alpine snowboarding and skiing, biathlon, skeleton, Nordic skiing and wheelchair curling. All of these except curling took place in the Sea to Sky.
Two-thousand people showed up to Whistler's Welcome Ceremony on Feb. 10, as did Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex and Michael Bublé. A pair of CF-18 Hornets from the 409 Tactical Fighter Squadron and 410 Tactical Fighter Operational Training Squadron out of Cold Lake, Alta. flew through Sea to Sky airspace that day as well, kicking things off loudly and proudly.
Canadians raked in a total of 11 medals at Whistler Blackcomb (WB) and Whistler Olympic Park (WOP) in alpine skiing, biathlon, Nordic skiing and snowboarding. Moreover, skeleton races took place at the Whistler Sliding Centre (WSC).
"Almost every single Invictus competitor chose an outdoor winter sport, and to have them all arrive in Whistler … was a little mind-blowing," said Chelsey Walker, IG25 director of Whistler operations. "I've been working on this project pretty full-time for three-and-a-half years. To see everybody come and watch the dream come alive was really emotional, but in a joyful way."
Invictus Games Foundation CEO Dominic Reid evidently agrees, saying in a press conference: "There is a progressive ratcheting up of the movement and the critical mass that underlines that movement. The scale, the size of it, the scope and the inclusion of winter sport does make [IG25] the best Games yet."
'What an amazing host'
Canadians Assunta Aquino and Janie Duguay both won alpine skiing gold on Feb. 12, exactly 15 years after the 2010 Olympics got underway. The legacy of that nation-defining event is very much alive and well.
"We have such fond memories from the 2010 Games," Walker said. "To use all the legacy facilities in such a significant way allowed us to really put our arms around our [military] service people.
"While the Olympics and Paralympics are such an amazing event showcasing elite sport, for us to have folks arrive from all around the world—who maybe have never seen snow before—and go into a competition dressed to look like a World Championships, executed so amazingly by our partners at Whistler Blackcomb, Whistler Adaptive, Whistler Sport Legacies … we were able to showcase once again what an amazing host Whistler can be."
One wouldn't have found many dry eyes during the festivities. Walker cried tears of joy in celebration with Aquino, a former Army combat engineer, as locals she'd known from the last four decades voiced pride about the Games. Folks who did not hear about the Invictus movement during its previous stops in London, the Hague or Dusseldorf appeared in force, ringing their cowbells and cheering heartily.
Organizers also displayed commitment to the Sea to Sky by upgrading local facilities.
A ramp was added to the WSC's Maple Leaf start, accessible doors at the WOP biathlon building were upgraded, and locations previously untraversable by wheelchair were paved. Equipment-wise, the Whistler Adaptive Sports Program (WASP) received 11 new sit-skis while the Sea to Sky Nordics got new biathlon range mats and 16 ecoaims rifles. Even leftover cowbells are bound for the Lil'wat Rodeo Society.
The Squamish, Musqueam, Tsleil-Waututh and Lil'wat people were central to IG25. Artists from each Host First Nation united to design the event's visual identity, while medals and a painting symbolic of the transition to Birmingham 2027 were crafted by Lil'wat artist Levi Nelson.
"These are our friends and neighbours, and we want to ensure that everything we did was with authenticity and true community spirit," Walker explained. "I saw somebody waving at me [in the Vancouver Convention Centre] and it was Lil'wat Chief Dean Nelson. We were able to reflect on the journey that we've been on together for the last two-and-a-half years, from when we first asked him to sign a letter of support to the closing ceremony where we had Chief Gélpcal's daughter as one of the ambassadors."
'Hope realized, inspiration on overload'
Invictus has brought Walker through her own journey, too.
The Whistlerite spent almost 20 years as WASP's executive director and also sat on the Games' bid committee. After becoming director of Whistler operations in 2022, she helmed the local planning process by helping different stakeholders cooperate with one another. She also co-directed accessibility planning.
Walker praised other key figures like True Patriot Love CEO Nick Booth, Invictus Games Vancouver Whistler CEO Scott Moore, COO Robyn McVicker, WB COO Belinda Trembath, Resort Municipality of Whistler Mayor Jack Crompton and CAO Virginia Cullen for their roles in making IG25 come to fruition.
Meanwhile, Sian Blyth has capably taken over at the head of WASP.
"It's just been such an honour for the Whistler Adaptive Sports Program to be a part of these incredible Games," Blyth said at a press conference. "We played a really exciting role collaborating with our partners Whistler Blackcomb and Whistler Olympic Park—supporting training events and the competitions themselves with our staff, volunteers and coaches. We've shown to the world that this is somewhere people with disabilities can come and recreate."
Walker added: "It was absolutely profound to watch [Sian and her colleagues] step up to the plate, knowing as I had transitioned to working with IG25 that we had such a strongly capable team that would help us execute the dream and vision we've had for the last 10 years."
One would be remiss to overlook the Games' artistic component. Whistler was open for business throughout their duration, as evidenced by concerts from acclaimed performers like Jim Cuddy, Barney Bentall, the Hairfarmers and Hey Ocean! The Maury Young Arts Centre hosted a memorable Veterans Art Show as the Village lit up with all-ages entertainment.
A new generation has witnessed the power of sport in helping human beings recover from trauma, be they soldiers or civilians. That fact paves the way for more awareness to be raised, more local initiatives to take off, and more people with disabilities to thrive in ways they didn't think possible.
Perhaps McVicker summed up IG25 most concisely when she described it as: "Hope realized and inspiration on overload."
Visit invictusgames2025.ca for more information.
