Prince Harry’s Invictus Games has replaced the use of rifles with lasers, according to multiple reports.
The Duke of Sussex, 40, will host the 2025 Invictus Games in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, from February 8 until February 16. The competition for injured or sick servicemen or women was founded by Harry in 2014.
Harry has switched to lasers for the biathlon event — which consists of Nordic skiing and target shooting — instead of rifles, which were traditionally used, per reports by the U.K.’s Telegraph newspaper and Fieldsports News.
However, the decision has been criticized by Christopher Bryde, a competitor on the U.S. biathlon team.
Prince Harry’s Invictus Games Heading to U.K. for 1st Time Since 2014
Speaking in a video message for Fieldsports News, Bryde said: “After having some time shooting the guns on the range, I can see several disadvantages.”
“We had a couple of issues with the cold and some of the [laser] guns just not working. Also, snow seemed to obstruct some of the targets,” he continued.
Us Weekly reached out to the Invictus Foundation for comment. However, a spokesperson for the organization told the Daily Mail: “The principal reason for the lasers is inclusivity.”
“[They] can be used by a wide range of those with disabilities,” they added.
The spokesperson said snow blocking the lasers “wouldn’t be the case” because “there would be officials on site ensuring readiness for the rifles.”
The decision to remove rifles from the games follows changes to the modern pentathlon during the 2024 Paris Olympics, which used lasers instead of pistols.
The Duke of Sussex celebrated the tournament’s tenth anniversary in 2024. Speaking to TSN in November, Harry said the anniversary was a “really exciting” milestone.
“The Invictus movement started back in 2014. It’s a sporting platform used for the rehabilitation and support for wounded soldiers, serving and veterans,” Harry said.
“We have 25 nations, growing all the time. It’s really an opportunity for the individuals themselves and their families to heal and rehabilitate,” he added.
Before launching the tournament, Harry had a longstanding military career. He joined the British Army in 2005 and went on to serve in Afghanistan. He retired in 2015, one year after launching the Invictus Games in London.
“I have witnessed firsthand how the power of sport can positively impact the lives of wounded, injured and sick servicemen and women in their journey of recovery,” Harry said at the launch of the Games in 2014.
