2017 Invictus Games

Last updated
Invictus Games – Toronto 2017
InvictusGamesToronto2017Logo.png
Host city Toronto, Canada
Nations17
Debuting countries2
Opening23 September 2017 (2017-09-23)
Closing30 September 2017 (2017-09-30)
Opened by Prince Harry
Torch lighterNatacha Dupuis, Simon Mailloux, David Johnston
Main venue Air Canada Centre
Website www.invictusgames2017.com

The 2017 Invictus Games was a parasport event for wounded, injured or sick armed services personnel and their associated veterans, which was held in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The third Invictus Games, an event created in 2014 by Prince Harry, included eleven sports. It was the second Games to be held in North America, following the Invictus Games Orlando 2016.

Contents

Development and preparation

The CEO of the 2017 Invictus Games was Michael Burns. [1]

Torch relay

Lighting of the torch to open the 2017 Invictus Games Team Canada lights the 2017 Invictus Games torch during opening ceremony (37421324995).jpg
Lighting of the torch to open the 2017 Invictus Games

The relay took place between 19 August and 26 September, visiting all 32 Canadian Forces bases and neighbouring communities, being carried by over 1000 torchbearers. The route was charted as being 7000 kilometres long.

Venues

The Games used some of the facilities from Pan American and Parapan American Games in 2015, held in Toronto. [2] [3]

VenueEvents/Sports
Air Canada Centre Opening and closing ceremonies
York Lions Stadium Athletics
Fort York National Historic Site Archery
Toronto Pan Am Sports Centre Swimming, Sitting volleyball and wheelchair basketball
Nathan Phillips Square Wheelchair tennis
Mattamy Athletic Centre Indoor rowing, powerlifting, sitting volleyball, wheelchair basketball and wheelchair rugby
St. George's Golf and Country Club Golf
High Park Cycling
Distillery District Driving challenge

There was no athlete's village for these games, but the downtown Sheraton Centre Toronto Hotel became an unofficial village for participants living there. [4]

Funding

The Royal Canadian Legion was asked by organizers to be a sponsor; the 30 members of the Legion council who met voted unanimously in support. Their $500,000 donation drew criticism from Canadian Veterans Advocacy, who suggested that drawing on the Poppy Campaign donations as opposed to other revenue sources was inappropriate. The Legion and columnists defended the use of funds as supporting the mission, noting other veteran welfare projects like purchasing a specialized MRI for a mental health clinic. [5] [6]

Marketing

The Central Band of the Canadian Armed Forces at Air Canada Centre for the opening ceremony of the games. Canadian Forces Central Band at Air Canada Centre.jpeg
The Central Band of the Canadian Armed Forces at Air Canada Centre for the opening ceremony of the games.

A dog named Vimy was announced as the Games' mascot in April 2015. [1] It was named for the Battle of Vimy Ridge, considered by many as a defining moment in Canadian history. [7] [8] [9] A few days later, Prince Harry attended an exhibition sledge hockey game at Mattamy Athletic Centre in Toronto, alongside Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Toronto Mayor John Tory, as part of a series of launch events at the Royal York Hotel, [10] and with Elizabeth Dowdeswell in the office of the Lieutenant Governor of Ontario, at the Legislative Assembly of Ontario, Queen's Park.

The Games

Participating nations

All 15 countries from the 2016 Games were invited again, [11] while Romania and Ukraine made their debut. [12]

Sports

  • Archery
  • Athletics
  • Golf
  • Indoor rowing
  • Powerlifting
  • Road cycling
  • Sitting volleyball
  • Sledge hockey
  • Swimming
  • Wheelchair basketball
  • Wheelchair rugby

Calendar

Source: [13]

 OC Opening ceremony ●  Event competitions 1 Event finals CC Closing ceremony
September23rd
Sat
24th
Sun
25th
Mon
26th
Tues
27th
Wed
28th
Thurs
29th
Fri
30th
Sat
Total
CeremoniesOCCC
Archery pictogram (Paralympics).svg Archery 88
Athletics pictogram (Paralympics).svg Athletics 293261
Cycling (road) pictogram (Paralympics).svg Cycling 111122
Driving Challenge 11
Golf pictogram.svg Golf 22
Rowing pictogram.svg Indoor rowing 1818
Powerlifting pictogram (Paralympics).svg Powerlifting 426
Sitting volleyball pictogram (Paralympics).svg Sitting volleyball 11
Swimming pictogram (Paralympics).svg Swimming 2929
Wheelchair basketball pictogram (Paralympics).svg Wheelchair basketball 11
Wheelchair rugby pictogram (Paralympics).svg Wheelchair rugby 11
Wheelchair tennis pictogram (Paralympics).svg Wheelchair tennis 11
Total gold medals1293733121371151
September23rd
Sat
24th
Sun
25th
Mon
26th
Tues
27th
Wed
28th
Thurs
29th
Fri
30th
Sat
Total

Medal table

  *   Host nation (Canada)

RankNationGoldSilverBronzeTotal
1Flag of the United States (23px).png  United States 413855134
2Flag of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 26352788
3Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg  Canada*18171348
4Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia 16231352
5Flag of the Netherlands.svg  Netherlands 142824
6Flag of France.svg  France 11141136
7Flag of Ukraine.svg  Ukraine 83314
8Flag of Iraq.svg  Iraq 4004
9Flag of New Zealand.svg  New Zealand 34411
10Flag of Denmark.svg  Denmark 3025
11Flag of Estonia.svg  Estonia 2248
12Flag of Italy.svg  Italy 1539
13Flag of Jordan.svg  Jordan 1315
14Flag of Germany.svg  Germany 1214
15Flag of Romania.svg  Romania 1124
16Flag of Georgia.svg  Georgia 1001
17Flag of Afghanistan (2013-2021).svg  Afghanistan 0112
Totals (17 entries)151150148449

Broadcasters

Bell Media was announced as the exclusive broadcast partner of the Games, in a deal covering both the Orlando 2016 and Toronto 2017 events. Events were shown on TSN. [14] The station helped run the Toronto launch ceremony in May 2016. [14]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Battle of Vimy Ridge</span> World War I battle (April 1917)

The Battle of Vimy Ridge was part of the Battle of Arras, in the Pas-de-Calais department of France, during the First World War. The main combatants were the four divisions of the Canadian Corps in the First Army, against three divisions of the German 6th Army. The battle occurred from 9 to 12 April 1917, marking the commencement of the Battle of Arras and serving as the inaugural assault of the Nivelle Offensive. The objective was to draw German reserves away from the French forces, preparing for a crucial offensive along the Aisne and the Chemin des Dames ridge several days later.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Vimy</span> Commune in Hauts-de-France, France

Vimy is a commune in the French department of Pas-de-Calais. Located 3.8 kilometers (2.4 mi) east of Vimy is the Canadian National Vimy Memorial dedicated to the Battle of Vimy Ridge and the Canadian soldiers who were killed during the First World War. The Memorial is also the site of two Canadian cemeteries.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2010 Winter Paralympics</span> Multi-parasport event in Vancouver and Whistler, Canada

The 2010 Winter Paralympics, or the tenth Paralympic Winter Games, were held in Vancouver and Whistler, British Columbia, Canada from March 12 to 21, 2010. The opening ceremony took place in BC Place Stadium in Vancouver and the Closing Ceremony in Whistler Medals Plaza.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Walter Seymour Allward</span> Canadian sculptor (1874–1955)

Walter Seymour Allward was a Canadian monumental sculptor best known for the Canadian National Vimy Memorial. Featuring expressive classical figures within modern compositions, Allward's monuments evoke themes of memory, sacrifice, and redemption. He has been widely praised for his "original sense of spatial composition, his mastery of the classical form and his brilliant craftsmanship".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Givenchy-en-Gohelle</span> Commune in Hauts-de-France, France

Givenchy-en-Gohelle is a commune in the Pas-de-Calais department in the Hauts-de-France region of France. The village was destroyed during World War I but was rebuilt after the war.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Canadian National Vimy Memorial</span> Memorial in Pas-de-Calais, in France

The Canadian National Vimy Memorial is a war memorial site in France dedicated to the memory of Canadian Expeditionary Force members killed during the First World War. It also serves as the place of commemoration for Canadian soldiers of the First World War killed or presumed dead in France who have no known grave. The monument is the centrepiece of a 100-hectare (250-acre) preserved battlefield park that encompasses a portion of the ground over which the Canadian Corps made their assault during the initial Battle of Vimy Ridge offensive of the Battle of Arras.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Canadian Red Ensign</span> Flag which served as Canadas flag before 1965

The Canadian Red Ensign served as a nautical flag and civil ensign for Canada from 1892 to 1965, and later as the de facto flag of Canada before 1965. The flag is a British Red Ensign, with the Royal Union Flag in the canton, emblazoned with the shield of the coat of arms of Canada.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lisa LaFlamme</span> Canadian television journalist (born 1964)

Lisa LaFlamme is a Canadian television journalist, and formerly the chief anchor and senior editor of CTV National News. She replaced Lloyd Robertson in this role on September 5, 2011. LaFlamme previously served as the news international affairs correspondent and substitute host for CTV National News. In August 2022, CTV announced it was ending her contract, due to a "business decision" to take the programme in a "different direction", ultimately replacing her with Omar Sachedina. LaFlamme spoke out publicly regarding her dismissal, and went viral on social media when she claimed she was "blindsided" by the decision.

Robert "Bob" Edward Manuel Sr. was a Korean War veteran best known for getting Vimy Ridge Day recognized as a National Heritage Day in Canada.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Help for Heroes</span> Organization

Help for Heroes is a British charity which supports members of the British Armed Forces community with their physical and mental health, as well as their financial, social and welfare needs. The charity was founded in 2007 by Bryn and Emma Parry after they visited soldiers at Selly Oak Hospital in Birmingham. The charity now supports all veterans, serving personnel, those who have served alongside the UK military, and their families.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2010 Winter Paralympics torch relay</span>

The 2010 Winter Paralympics Torch Relay was a 10-day event leading up to the 2010 Winter Paralympic Games in Vancouver. It began on March 3, 2010, in Ottawa and concluded at the Games' opening ceremony on March 12. Held entirely within Canada, the host country, it has been described by the Vancouver Organizing Committee for the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games as "an important event to connect Canadians to the Games", by "demonstrating the fire inside each individual and how it inspires others".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Simon Mailloux</span> Canadian military officer (born 1983)

Simon Mailloux is a serving officer in the Canadian Forces. He was severely injured on 16 November 2007 in an IED incident in Afghanistan. As a result, his left leg was amputated.

The Vimy Foundation is a charity focused on raising awareness of the role Canada played in World War I and the implications of Canada's success in the Battle of Vimy Ridge on April 9, 1917. The Vimy Foundation was founded in 1996 by John Andrew Powell, with support from Sir Nicholas Bonsor. Its office is located in Toronto, Canada.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Invictus Games</span> International Paralympic-style multi-sport event

The Invictus Games is an international multi-sport event first held in 2014, for wounded, injured and sick servicemen and women, both serving and veterans. The word 'Invictus' is Latin for 'unconquered', chosen as an embodiment of the fighting spirit of the wounded, injured and sick service personnel and what they can achieve, post-injury.

Vimy is a commune in the Pas-de-Calais department in the Nord-Pas-de-Calais region of France

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Warrior Games</span> American sporting event for wounded service personnel and veterans

The Warrior Games is a multi-sport event for wounded, injured or ill service personnel and veterans organized by the United States Department of Defense (DoD).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2018 Invictus Games</span>

The 2018 Invictus Games was an adaptive mulit-sport event for wounded, injured and ill veteran and active defence personnel, held in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. The fourth Invictus Games, an event founded in 2014 by Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, included 13 sports. It was the first Invictus Games held in the southern hemisphere.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2016 Invictus Games</span>

The 2016 Invictus Games was the second edition of the Invictus Games. On 14 July 2015, Prince Harry, founder and patron of Invictus Games Foundation, announced the 2016 Invictus Games would take place from 8–12 May 2016 at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex in Orlando, Florida.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2020 Invictus Games</span>

The 2020 Invictus Games was an adaptive multi-sport event for wounded, injured and ill veteran and active defence personnel, that took place in The Hague, Netherlands in April 2022, after having been postponed twice. It was the fifth edition of the Invictus Games.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2023 Canada Winter Games</span> Multi-sports competition

The 2023 Canada Winter Games, officially known as the XXVIII Canada Games, was a Canadian multi-sport event hosted across Prince Edward Island, from February 18, 2023, to March 5, 2023.

References

  1. 1 2 Sachgau, Oliver (29 April 2016). "Meet Vimy, the 2017 Invictus Games mascot". Toronto Star . Toronto ON. Retrieved 4 May 2016.
  2. Kilkenny, Carmel (16 March 2016). "Invictus Games coming to Toronto in 2017". Radio Canada International. Montreal. Retrieved 4 May 2016.
  3. "Venues". Invictus Games Toronto 2017. Retrieved October 29, 2017.
  4. "Sheraton Centre Hotel lobby becomes 'borderless village' during Invictus Games". CBC News.
  5. Coyle, Jim (28 April 2016). "Royal Canadian Legion's donation to Invictus Games draws objections". Toronto Star . Toronto ON. Retrieved 4 May 2016.
  6. "Invictus Games money well spent". Ottawa Sun . Ottawa. 30 April 2016. Retrieved 4 May 2016.
  7. Anthony Wilson-Smith. "Vimy Ridge and the Birth of a Nation". The Canadian Encyclopedia.
  8. "Battle of Vimy Ridge marked Canada's birth as a nation: Governor General David Johnston". National Post. 9 April 2012.
  9. "The Battle of Vimy Ridge April 9-12, 1917 - The First World War". Warmuseum.ca.
  10. "Prince Harry, Justin Trudeau launch 2017 Invictus Games in Toronto". CBC News . Toronto ON. 2 May 2016. Retrieved 4 May 2016.
  11. "Nations | Invictus Games Toronto 2017". Invictusgames2017.com. Retrieved 12 May 2016.
  12. "Nations | Invictus Games Toronto 2017". Invictusgames2017.com. Retrieved 27 September 2016.
  13. "Results | Invictus Games Toronto 2017". Archived from the original on 2017-10-04. Retrieved 2017-10-04.
  14. 1 2 "Bell Media exclusive media partner of the Invictus Games Toronto 2017". Tsn.ca.