Hosted Virtual Event for Warrior Games

In September 2021, Prince Harry, the Duke of Sussex, co-hosted a virtual event to recognize and honor athletes who were scheduled to compete in the U.S. Department of Defense Warrior Games, after the in-person competition was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Warrior Games, an annual adaptive sports event established in 2010, brings together wounded, ill, and injured service members and veterans from across the United States to compete in a range of sports including wheelchair basketball, sitting volleyball, and track and field. The 2021 Warrior Games, originally planned to take place in Orlando, Florida, were canceled as part of ongoing public health precautions. In response, a virtual alternative was organized in September 2021 to ensure that participating athletes still received recognition for their training, resilience, and commitment. Prince Harry, who founded the Invictus Games in 2014, joined U.S. officials and organizers in hosting the online event, reflecting his continued involvement in initiatives supporting military personnel and veterans. The virtual ceremony included messages of appreciation, athlete spotlights, and acknowledgment of the challenges faced by competitors preparing for an event that ultimately could not take place in person. Prince Harry’s participation highlighted the connection between the Warrior Games and the broader international Invictus Games community, both of which focus on recovery and rehabilitation through sport. The event served as a substitute platform to maintain engagement and morale among participants during a period when many sporting events were disrupted globally due to the pandemic.