By SDCN Staff
London, UK–The Invictus Games Foundation announced that San Diego, Aalborg, Denmark, and Daejeon, Republic of Korea, have been shortlisted as candidate host cities for the Invictus Games 2029.
The announcement follows a competitive bidding process that drew six applications. According to the foundation, the shortlisted cities were selected after a comprehensive assessment that evaluated vision and legacy, operational and sporting delivery, accessibility and sustainability, governance, financial capacity, and the ability to contribute to the long-term development of the Invictus Movement.
The host city for the 2029 Games is expected to be named this summer after a series of site visits and further evaluations by the Invictus Games Foundation.
The foundation said each shortlisted bid demonstrated alignment with the Invictus Games’ mission to support the recovery and rehabilitation of wounded, injured and sick service members and veterans, while also outlining plans to create lasting benefits beyond the event itself.
“The quality, ambition and heart shown across all the bids for the Invictus Games 2029 has been truly inspiring,” Rob Owen OBE, chief executive of the Invictus Games Foundation, said in a news release. “An unprecedented number of applications show a strong foundation for the future of the Invictus Games.”
Owen also thanked Italy, Nigeria and Ukraine, whose bids were not shortlisted, noting that the foundation plans to maintain relationships with all bidding nations.
“These were all fantastic bids, the decision was not easy, and so our relationship with each country will continue,” he said, citing ongoing initiatives such as Nigeria’s Armed Forces Invictus Centre and the Signature Programme for Ukraine.
According to the foundation, Aalborg’s bid emphasized Denmark’s experience in sports rehabilitation, including mental health support, and highlighted nationally recognized programs that use sport to assist service members transitioning to civilian life. The city’s compact layout, experience hosting major multi-sport events, and sustainability plans were cited as strengths.
Daejeon proposed hosting the first Invictus Games in Asia, with a focus on establishing a lasting regional presence for the movement. The bid relied largely on existing infrastructure, with venues located close together, and outlined plans to support rehabilitation efforts in South Korea and across the region.
San Diego’s proposal highlighted the city’s large military population and its geographic position connecting North America, Latin America and the Pacific Rim. The bid emphasized athlete- and family-centered planning, along with a coordinated venue strategy and long-term legacy goals.
The Invictus Games Foundation also acknowledged the bids from Italy, Nigeria and Ukraine, describing them as credible proposals with potential for future development. The foundation said it will continue working with all bidding nations on alternative initiatives to support sports recovery and rehabilitation, including expanding adaptive winter sports programs, advancing rehabilitation efforts through Nigeria’s Armed Forces Invictus Centre in Abuja, and supporting Ukraine through research, partnerships and grant funding.
The Invictus Games, founded in 2014 by Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, use adaptive sports to support the recovery and rehabilitation of wounded, injured and sick service members and veterans from participating nations.
