The next Invictus Games will be held in Vancouver and Whistler from 6-17 February 2025. We actually have more than fourteen months, plenty of time to organize the Games. In fact, as I see it Heart of Invictus, I wondered why Prince Harry and the Invictus team didn’t expand the Games so that more experienced people could compete and take part in the event – ​​in most countries, there are hundreds, if not thousands, of applicants for the Games. But I suspect the Invictus team wants to keep a somewhat smaller footprint for the Games so host countries don’t have to spend millions of dollars. The Vancouver-Whistler Games will also be the first “winter sports” competition for Invictus, and I believe it will be the biggest Invictus competition ever, featuring even more competition and all-new adaptive sports. Well, because Prince Harry gets so much support and good press because of Invictus, the Daily Mail is trying its best to stir up some controversy.

Prince Harry’s next Invictus Games in Canada – a country he and Meghan Markle love – are in ‘turmoil’ after two senior officials were sacked ‘with no apparent reason’, a whistleblower told MailOnline today ‘While only one year is left.

But MailOnline can exclusively reveal that CEO Peter Lawless, a lawyer and arguably Canada’s most respected Olympic and Paralympic administrator, has suddenly left his job. An insider has claimed that Mr Lawless, who was awarded a Diamond Jubilee Medal by Harry’s grandmother the Queen in 2012, has been fired and morale among staff is now at an ‘all-time low’. An Invictus Games spokesperson declined to comment on whether he had been dismissed, instead saying that he had been ‘transferred’ and was ‘no longer an employee’ but would remain an ambassador.

Bill Cooper is also leaving the Vancouver-Whistler team, having held the role of chief commercial officer for ten months until leaving in October. He has thanked colleagues for their support after many praised his ‘grace’ and accused Invictus 2025 of making a big mistake by getting rid of him.

A game volunteer said staff are ‘concerned that these recent steps will again overshadow this incredible event for our veterans.’ He also expressed concern that if Invictus 2025 were to foot the bill, the security and other costs of the Sussexes could put a strain on the Games’ finances. He said the 2025 Games faced financial concerns, a claim denied by an Invictus spokesperson, while the governments of Canada and British Columbia have pledged to spend approximately £20m ($30 million) to organize the Games. Have done.

The whistleblower said: ‘CEO Peter Lawless and Chief Commercial Officer Bill Cooper were dismissed without apparent reason. This is a significant blow with just over a year to go before the Games, I am told, are well over budget and will close the gap even after securing $30 million in government aid from the Province of British Columbia and the Canadian federal government. There is no plan to bridge. ,

The volunteer claims that the departure of the CEO and Chief Commercial Officer has created inner restlessness. He said: ‘As you might expect, morale among staff and volunteers is at an all-time low, and Prince Harry and his wife have become a significant distraction with all their troubles. As volunteers, we are concerned that these recent steps will again impact this incredible event for our veterans. enough already’.

MailOnline contacted the Duke and Duchess of Sussex to comment on the departures and whether they were involved in the decision to terminate Lawless and Cooper’s employment. Their spokesperson was also asked whether Harry and Meghan would cover their travel, accommodation and security costs during the last Invictus, to be held in Düsseldorf, Germany in September.

[From The Daily Mail]

This “whistleblower” is a Mail reporter or palace enthusiast. “Prince Harry and his wife have become a significant distraction with all their troubles.” What? The man who founded Invictus is a distraction? The man who is beloved by Invictus competitors? Harry and Meghan are extremely popular within the Invictus community, and heart of invictus Showed how much Invictus as an organization still relies on Harry and Meghan as part of its global brand. And it’s ridiculous to even talk about security – Germany did its best to ensure the security of the Sussexes and Canada will do the same because, again, the Sussexes are an important part of the Invictus brand. Now, all that being said, I’m sure the staff turnover and loss of some CEOs is worrisome. But then again, we’re fourteen months out, not fourteen days.

PS… I wonder how much of this is just about the CWG conflict? The CG does not have host countries for the 2026 or 2030 Games after Australia and Canada abandoned their bids. Laugh out loud.

Photos courtesy of Cover Images.