Pickleball will make its debut in the Invictus Games when Birmingham hosts the event in 2027.
Founded by Prince Harry in 2014, the Invictus Games is the international competitive multi-sport event for wounded, injured and sick servicemen and women, both serving and veterans.
As one of the world’s most inclusive sports, pickleball is ideal for the Invictus Games, with easily adapted versions for wheelchair users who can play between themselves or alongside standing players.
Military veteran and amputee, Gaz Golightly, took part in a demonstration of pickleball at the NEC in Birmingham on Tuesday morning (23 July), alongside Pickleball England’s West Midlands Regional Director, Michael De Groot, and top English pro Thaddea Lock. The Games’ other newly-introduced sport, Laser Run, was also showcased.
The event was part of the official announcement of Birmingham as the 2027 Invictus Games host city at a flag raising ceremony attended by the newly-appointed Minister for Veterans and People, the Rt Hon Al Carns OBE MC.
The event was covered by Good Morning Britain who interviewed Gaz live.
Presenter Katy Rickitt than had a go with a paddle herself (with modest success!).
Lobbying from Gaz and his wife Dee has played a major role in pickleball’s inclusion on the programme for the Games in three years’ time.
The Carlisle-based father of four had his right leg amputated, and sustained nerve damage to his left, following a car accident while driving to a routine guard duty shift in Wiltshire in 2002.
Years after his accident, he tried many wheelchair sports but found that pickleball was by far the most inclusive for wheelchair users. He is now a qualified coach and has led pickleball sessions for fellow veterans as well as competing in the English Nationals, English Open and Invictus Games.
He said: “Being a military veteran, I see the benefits from a recovery point of view as well, the way that you can play the game with your children, the way it extends to your partner.
“It’s very inclusive and doing the coaching side of it intrigued me because from a wheelchair point of view it’s an adaption of the able-bodied game.”
