Why was Vancouver chosen to host the 2025 Invictus Games?  

Event organisers for the Invictus Games, of which Prince Harry is patron, not only chose Vancouver for our stunning natural backdrops but also because our destination can offer a great all-round experience for visitors.

Vancouver’s tourism industry is continuing to work hard to ensure our destination is accessible for all travellers. As hosts of the 2010 Paralympic Winter Games, Vancouver has already made significant investments in key elements of our city’s infrastructure to accommodate visitors with a range of accessible needs. For example, Vancouver has a fully accessible public transit system – all TransLink buses, community shuttles, SkyTrain, SeaBus, and the West Coast Express are fully accessible to people of all abilities.

For passengers with special needs who have challenges using standard transit options, the HandyDART service provides door-to-door travel. Vancouver’s major taxi companies offer vehicles that can accommodate passengers with disabilities, including wheel-chair-accessible vans. Additionally, a number of services such as curb ramps, audible signals at pedestrian crossings and accessible waiting and boarding areas at transport terminals, have been put in place to help visitors with a range of accessible needs get around our city. More information on accessible public transit in Vancouver can be found here. 

Many of Vancouver’s top hotels offer accessible room types – a full list of accessible accommodation can be found on Destination BC’s website. 

What’s more Vancouver is a leading destination for hosting major sporting and cultural events – over the past few years, the city has successfully hosted large scale events including the 2024 Grey Cup, last year’s Laver Cup and the final three concerts of Taylor Swift’s epic The Eras Tour. Looking ahead, we’re very excited that Vancouver is a host city of Fifa World Cup 2026, with seven matches to be played at BC Place Stadium. 

Vancouver International Airport is regarded as one of the most accessible airports in the world – why is that?

Throughout the airport, there are a number of facilities such as accessible restrooms, plain language signage, check-in counters adapted for wheelchairs and those with impaired hearing and airport gates equipped with dedicated wheelchair lifts for loading into the aircraft.

Outside the terminals, ramps and special kerbside parking are available at both the Arrivals and Departures areas. These are just some examples of the types of services on offer to ensure that travellers with accessible needs have a smooth experience as they arrive and depart from Vancouver. More information on accessible transportation and accessibility travel resources at YVR can be found here.

What are some of the stand-out experiences in Vancouver that are accessible for all?

Vancouver offers travellers access to a mixture of urban experiences and adventures in nature. A number of the city’s top attractions have put measures in place to ensure that they are accessible. For example, Vancouver’s star attractions including Granville Island, FlyOver Canada and our world-famous sea wall are all wheelchair accessible.

Across the city, there are a number of local organisations working together to ensure that our nature and outdoor recreations are accessible to everyone. For example, the British Columbia Mobile Opportunities Society offers opportunities for guided adaptive cycling and hiking in Pacific Spirit Park, as well as adaptive paddling sessions with adaptive kayaks and paddleboards. For those that enjoy time out on the water, the Disabled Sailing Association of British Columbia offers excursions using their fleet of Marlin sailboats.

Another organisation offering adaptive outdoor recreation is Power to Be offering programmes in both Vancouver and Victoria. Their activities, mainly day trips but some overnight, are for anyone with physical or cognitive disabilities, and can include geocaching, canoeing, hiking, yoga, snowshoeing, indoor climbing and more.

Visitors using mobility devices can also experience Vancouver’s beaches. At both Kitsilano and English Bay beaches, “mobi-mat” non-slip pathways have been installed, allowing wheelchair users to move from the sidewalk down to the beach’s tide line in a regular chair.

For the first time ever, the Invictus Games will include winter sports – how do Vancouver and Whistler cater for winter adaptive sports?  

For visitors interested in winter adaptive sports, Vancouver Adaptive Snow Sports offers programmes on all three of the city’s local ski mountains (Grouse, Cypress and Mt Seymour), aimed making the mountains accessible to all. While their focus is on multi-week lessons, there are some drop-in opportunities for experienced adaptive skiers.

Up in Whistler, Whistler Adaptive Sports Program offers skiing, snowboarding and sit-skiing lessons, as well as a huge range of other adaptive sports programmes throughout the year. And Whistler-Blackcomb offers information on accessibility options in both winter and summer here. 

What do you hope the legacy of the Invictus Games will be for Vancouver?

Vancouver is looking forward to hosting competitors and spectators from all over the world for the Invictus Games 2025 for what promises to be an exceptional week of inspiring sporting action. As the first-ever “hybrid” Invictus Games to feature a winter adaptive sports programme, it provides a great opportunity to showcase that our destination’s spectacular nature and outdoor activities can be enjoyed by everyone. 

Vancouver is also a diverse, global city with residents from all over the world. With up to 25 nations competing in the next Invictus Games, all competitors will be given a warm welcome by our passionate sports fans. 

The Invictus Games is all about inspiring recovery through the power of sport. Many visitors to Vancouver often say they leave feeling refreshed and rejuvenated – largely due to our close proximity to the ocean, rainforest and mountains and with a compact downtown that makes it easy to get around. We hope that the competitors and spectators will leave Vancouver feeling refreshed and inspired having experienced our city in nature.