RBC GranFondo Whistler announces new military categories in support of Invictus Games Vancouver Whistler 2025

July 19, 2023

Invictus Games returns to Canada in February 2025

[Vancouver / Whistler, BC]/ENDURANCE SPORTSWIRE/ – In April 2022, Prince Harry, The Duke of Sussex, announced as the Founding Patron of the Invictus Games Foundation that the bid for the Invictus Games 2025 had been awarded to Canada. The Games will occur from February 6 to 17, 2025, in Vancouver and Whistler, BC.

The Invictus Games is a biennial multinational adaptive sporting competition that aims to inspire recovery, support rehabilitation, and generate a wider understanding and respect for those who serve their country.

In February 2025, more than 500 wounded, injured and sick service personnel and veterans from over 20 nations, including competitors from Team Canada, will be welcomed to the traditional territories of the Lil̓wat7úl (Líl̓wat), xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish) and səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) Nations to compete in a range of adaptive sports – including for the very first time in Invictus Games history, adaptive winter sports.

In celebration of and to raise awareness of the Invictus Games Vancouver Whistler 2025 and its mission, the dedicated organizing committees are working alongside each other to bring two new categories to RBC GranFondo Whistler for 2023: the Veteran and Current Military category and the Invictus Alumni category.

These new categories will allow Canada’s valued service personnel and veterans opportunities to participate in North America’s largest Gran Fondo with reduced barriers.

Invictus Games Alumni: This category is for veterans or currently serving Canadian Armed Forces members (or other nations) who have been competitors at any of the Invictus Games. Registration fee: $75.

Veteran and Current Military: This category is for any person currently serving in the Canadian Armed Forces or any former member of the Canadian Armed Forces who successfully underwent basic training and was honourably discharged. Registration fee: $200.

Peter Lawless, CEO of the Invictus Games Vancouver Whistler 2025, shared, “The Invictus Games serve as a remarkable platform to utilize the transformative power of sport to inspire recovery and support the rehabilitation journeys of our extraordinary service personnel and veterans. We are delighted that this incredible sporting event has made this opportunity available to the Invictus family to help further our mission to foster greater understanding and respect for the dedicated individuals who serve this country”.

Neil McKinnon, founder of RBC GranFondo Whistler said, “My father

was a proud Canadian Military man, so naturally I am delighted to support the Invictus Games Vancouver Whistler 2025 as well as provide new opportunities for our valued service people, veterans and Invictus Alumni. Everyone deserves the right to experience the magic of a Gran Fondo; celebrating together and riding the Sea to Sky as one”.

Participants wishing to enter into either one of these categories are invited to register now.

Please note, a military ID or a Veteran Service Card must be shown at package pick-up.

Interested eligible participants can register now or email info@rbcgranfondo.com with any questions.

• Learn more about Invictus Games 2025 Vancouver Whistler 
• Register now for one of the new categories

ABOUT RBC GRANFONDO WHISTLER

Established following the Vancouver Winter Olympics in 2010, RBC GranFondo Whistler is an award-winning point-to-point cycling event between Vancouver and Whistler, British Columbia, Canada. On average, 5000 cyclists ride each year across different distance categories, both competitive and non-competitive. The event and title sponsor RBC – Royal Bank of Canada – has also contributed over $300,000 to charitable causes since inception.

The 2023 edition takes place across September 8 and 9, 2023 (rbcgranfondo.com/whistler).

ABOUT INVICTUS GAMES VANCOUVER WHISTLER 2025

The Invictus Games Vancouver Whistler 2025 will use the power of sport to inspire recovery, support rehabilitation, and generate a wider understanding and respect for those who serve their country. Taking place from February 6 to 17, 2025, the Games will bring together over 500 competitors from 20 nations to compete in adaptive sports, including the new winter sports: alpine skiing, Nordic skiing, skeleton, and wheelchair curling, in addition to the core sports of indoor rowing, sitting volleyball, swimming, wheelchair rugby and wheelchair basketball.

The Invictus Games 2025 will be held on the traditional territories of the Lil̓wat7úl (Líl̓wat), xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish) and səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) Nations. The organizing committee is committed to engaging with each Nation, addressing Canada’s Truth and Reconciliation Calls to Action, and respecting Indigenous protocols in all aspects of the Games.

True Patriot Love Foundation, the Government of Canada, and the Province of British Columbia are the Founding Partners of the Invictus Games Vancouver Whistler 2025. (invictusgames2025.ca)

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For more information, please contact Oli Cartmell via oli@rbcgranfondo.com

Contact: Oli Cartmell

RBC GranFondo Whistler

604-568-8648 x 225

oli@rbcgranfondo.com

rbcgranfondo.com/whistler