Seoul: The South Korean central city of Daejeon has been selected to host the Invictus Games in 2029, marking the first occasion for an Asian country to stage this international sporting event for injured service members, as announced by the veterans ministry.
According to Yonhap News Agency, the Invictus Games Foundation in Britain chose Daejeon, situated approximately 140 kilometers south of Seoul, over contenders Aalborg in Denmark and San Diego in the United States. The decision to host the 2029 competition in Daejeon was made unanimously by the foundation's board of trustees, recognizing the city's preparedness and shared commitment to the recovery and rehabilitation of wounded service members.
The veterans ministry highlighted that the foundation gave high marks to South Korea's level of preparedness throughout the bidding process. This included a comprehensive on-site inspection of the proposed venue in February, submission of the application in May, and a bidding presentation in London in June.
The foundation anticipates that South Korea hosting the Invictus Games as the first Asian country, coupled with its cultural influence, will encourage greater participation from other Asian nations in the future. The Invictus Games, founded by Britain's Prince Harry in 2014, is an international sports competition for wounded, injured, and sick service members, previously held only in North America, Europe, and Australia.
South Korea made significant efforts to secure the bid, with Veterans Minister Kwon Oh-eul traveling to London last month to present South Korea's capabilities and eagerness to host the games. The 2029 games are projected to gather around 3,000 participants, including 550 athletes from 26 countries and approximately 1,100 family members.