The 2025 Invictus Games in the cities of Vancouver and Whistler, Canada, begin today, with an opening ceremony of two-and-a-half hours, starting at 9pm GMT.
The nine-day sporting event – created by Prince Harry in 2014 for wounded, injured and sick servicemen and women – will see more than 500 competitors from 23 countries come together.
From today until February 16, athletes will compete in the games’ core sports – indoor rowing, sitting volleyball, swimming, wheelchair rugby and wheelchair basketball.
But this year, the Games will also feature new winter sports: Alpine skiing and snowboard, Nordic skiing and biathlon, skeleton – a form of sledding – and wheelchair curling.
Coldplay’s Chris Martin, Nelly Furtado and Katy Perry are all due to perform at the opening ceremony tonight in front of a sell-out crowd of 40,000 spectators.
And the Duke and Duchess of Sussex are also due to make an appearance together at the event.
Follow along for live updates on the opening ceremony.
Live updates below
Exclusive:Harry and Meghan arrived at their £5,000-a-night hotel by private jet
Prince Harry was all smiles as he arrived at his five-star hotel for the start of the Invictus Games last night.
He grinned broadly from the back seat with his wife Meghan, who was casually dressed in a blue top and brown coat, as they arrived at the ultra luxurious Fairmont Pacific Rim hotel.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex will be enjoying ‘rock star’ status during their stay in Vancouver after booking a £5,000 a night suite that comes with its own private elevator and rooftop patio.
Here is our exclusive story for more:
Meghan made impromptu speech at private Invictus Games event yesterday
Meghan Markle gave an impromptu speech at a private Invictus Games event to say how she feels ‘at home’ in Canada and praised her husband for his dedication to the sporting event for disabled military veterans.
After giving Harry a intimate kiss on stage she took the microphone to talk about the importance of the event – and how their children in California were fully aware of what the game mean to the family.
She told an audience of military veterans and their families how much the Games meant to her husband saying they were his ‘family’.
Here is our story with more:
Build-up to opening ceremony of Invictus Games 2025 begins
Hello and welcome to MailOnline’s live coverage of the opening ceremony of the Invictus Games 2025, which is due to start at 9pm GMT.
Coldplay’s Chris Martin, Nelly Furtado and Katy Perry are all set to perform at the BC Place stadium in Vancouver tonight in front of a sell-out crowd of 40,000 spectators.
And the Duke and Duchess of Sussex are also due to make an appearance together at the event.
Stick with us as we bring you the latest updates.
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Invictus Games live updates: Prince Harry opens competition as locals make their feelings known on Meghan Markle’s arrival in Canada
