Prince Harry Has 'Created Extraordinary Opportunities' for Invictus Games Family, CEO Says (Exclusive)

Mar. 15, 2025

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“It is very important to him as a soldier, it’s very important to him as a person,” Reid tells PEOPLE. “He has absolutely been the person giving guidance and direction. That has been a joy to be involved with.”

A key moment, he says, was when Harry addressed a briefing of NATO’s military committee via video link in Oct. 2024, “which was an extraordinary place to find ourselves," Reid says.

“We all get something from it for our own reasons,” he adds. “But he has created extraordinary opportunities to an extraordinary number of people. They feel seen and heard and cared about.”

Nigeria, which Harry and wifeMeghan Marklevisited in May 2024, is starting work on the new Invictus Centre in Abuja, which will be a global first for the foundation. Reid says of their preparations, “They have done training camps in Colorado and have been exposed to this,” of the snowy conditions not usually associated with West Africa.

Dominic Reid and U.K. veterans minister, right, at the July 2024 announcement in Birmingham, of the next games – set for 2025.Christopher Furlong/Getty

Christopher Furlong/Getty

“I’ve been trying to get this to happen for ten years,” he says. “For me, it is fantastic. I know there is a fantastic amount that winter sports have to offer – not only in the environment that people find themselves in but also the whole approach to calculated risk-taking that is such an important part of peoples’ recovery.”

Over the last decade of his tenure, the enduring memories “are all emotional,” Reid says. “They are all about seeing peoples’ lives change in front of you, which is an honor and a privilege. Some of the interactions with the Duke, who’s been incredibly supportive of the games and of me personally. It has been an extraordinary ride.”

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In the countries that are sending teams, he says, “We have made a significant impact in the way in which disability is perceived. We have changed notions around service – it’s a really powerful thing that’s been done.”

“We talk about changing lives and saving lives,” he says. “And a piece of research we did in Dusseldorf: 10% of a group of people interviewed said they were not confident they would be here if it wasn’t for what they had got from Invictus. That piece of research demonstrates that we have had an impact. That is very sobering.”

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After Vancouver and Whistler, the next gameswill head back to the U.K., to Birmingham.

“It is significant for it to come back to the U.K. Our wounded, injured and sick were all repatriated to the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Birmingham,” says Reid. “It will have real power. We do have an extraordinary, strong pipeline.”

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“We have ideas of where we might go in 2031,” he says. “The fact that we have that pipeline is amazing. If you were to ask another major international sports event if they would like that kind of pipeline, they would probably say, ‘Yes.’ "

Reid is traveling with his successor Rob Owen, “who will do a fantastic job taking over.” Reid ends his tenure on February 28, 2025.

source: people.com