Organizers of the Invictus Games, the biannual sporting competition for wounded, injured and sick military veterans from around the world, are adamant that Team Israel be allowed to participate despite protester demands to bar Israeli athletes.
Prior to the opening ceremony at Vancouver’s BC Place on Feb. 8, the pro-Palestinian group Al-Awda Vancouver, called on British Columbia Premier David Eby and organizers not to allow Israel’s participation. In a media advisory, Al-Awda claimed that active Israeli military personnel are taking part in amid serious allegations of wrongdoing against them.
“This year’s participation of Israeli soldiers—some of whom may have been directly involved in actions currently under investigation by the International Criminal Court (ICC) for war crimes, crimes against humanity, and genocide of the Palestinian people—casts a shadow over the event’s integrity,” the advisory read.
An online campaign organized by Al-Awda in protest against Israel’s presence at the Games has sent over 30,000 letters to event organizers and the B.C. government.
Al-Awda’s allegations were refuted by organizers and the Invictus Games Foundation, who sent a statement to The CJN.
“It would be incorrect to state that Israeli soldiers with pending war crime charges will be participating in the Games. The pending war crimes charges are levied at leadership from both sides of the conflict,” the statement read. “The individuals taking part in the Games are now civilians, no longer serving in the IDF.”
Organizers emphasized that the Israeli team is led by the Zahal Disabled Veterans Organization, an Israel-based non-profit that aims to support, care for and help rehabilitate 54,000 injured soldiers, victims of terror and their families.
While saying it understood that there may be concerns regarding Israel’s involvement, the primary goal of the Invictus Games—which are being held in Vancouver and Whistler through this weekend—is to help injured and sick veterans who use sport in their recovery and rehabilitation.
“Our focus is on the non-political, personal stories of its competitors and their family and friends, looking at the universal challenges of overcoming injuries and illness,” they said. “The Games offer a neutral platform that transcends political disputes, focusing instead on human resilience and solidarity among those who served.”
Organizers stressed that event is an opportunity for participants to connect with other veterans in “a non-political, supportive environment that emphasizes shared experiences over differences, irrespective of conflict.” They added that the 2,100 staff and volunteers are committed to providing “a life-changing experience” for all participants and their families.
On February 3, two UBC employees — members of UBC Staff for Palestine — delivered printed copies of a petition to three UBC administration offices, including UBC President Benoit-Antoine Bacon's office.
— The Ubyssey (@Ubyssey) February 10, 2025
Read more here: https://t.co/26v1SKNzPv
Another group taking issue with Israel’s presence at the Games is UBC Staff for Palestine. Comprised of employees at the University of British Columbia, they delivered a petition (“Keep the Israeli Occupation Forces Off UBC Campus!) to the school’s president, the manager of its aquatic centre and other members of its administration on Feb. 3.
“The decision to allow members of the IOF [sic] on campus and into our facilities is deeply troubling in light of Israel’s ongoing violations of international law,” the petition said. “UBC prides itself on values of community safety and global citizenship, yet hosting members of a military force that is enacting against Palestinians directly contradicts these commitments.”
The UBC Aquatic Centre will be the site of the swimming competitions on Feb. 14. At this point, it is unclear whether any Israeli athletes will be competing at the event. Invictus does not list the names of any competing swimmers on its website, regardless of the country they represent.
Nico Slobinsky, vice-president for the Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs (CIJA) in the Pacific Region, said that is very troubling to witness calls for UBC to pull out of its role of playing host to the swimming competition.
“These Games are about honouring and supporting wounded veterans from around the world, providing them with a platform for healing, camaraderie, and competition,” he said. “Attempts to politicize or undermine an event dedicated to those who have sacrificed so much are unacceptable. They serve only to sow division and should be rejected outright.”
Kol HaKavod to Team @Israel 🇮🇱 in wheelchair 🏀 @InvictusGames25 for winning the gold 🏅 in the finals vs. #TeamUSA 🇺🇸 at the @VanConventions Centre. #InvictusGamesChampions #WeAreInvictus 💛 #IG25 🎉 pic.twitter.com/SKtwKfQoDe
— Nico Slobinsky (@nicoslobinsky) February 10, 2025
Matthew Ramsey, a spokesperson for the university, said that UBC had received a petition and is aware that some members of the campus community have expressed concerns about hosting an event.
“UBC provides rented venue space to hundreds of external events annually across campus. Given this is an external event, the university has no further comments on the specific concerns raised by the petitioners,” he told The CJN.
UBC has been the site of multiple pro-Palestinian protests and events since Oct. 7, 2023, including a months-long encampment, demands by student groups to have the university divest from Israel and an effort to evict Hillel from its campus.
More than 550 athletes from 23 countries in 11 adaptive sports are taking part in the 2025 Invictus Games. Israel, with 18 competitors listed, has performed well during its stay in British Columbia. It dominated the wheelchair basketball event, taking home a gold medal on Feb. 9 after soundly defeating the defending champions, the United States, by a score of 62-7.
The same day it won a bronze medal in wheelchair curling after beating hosts Canada in extra ends. On Feb. 12, Roy Nevo earned a bronze medal for Israel in the standing ski event.
Israel joined the Invictus in 2022 and participated in the 2023 Games held in Dusseldorf, Germany. Many of the venues in Vancouver are the same as those used when Canada hosted the 2010 Winter Olympics. The 2025 Games are the first time Invictus has featured winter adaptive sports.
The Invictus Games were founded by Prince Harry in 2014.
