Militarism, Disability and the Invictus Games

INVICTUS GAMES TORONTO 2017

The Invictus Games is an international adaptive multi-sport event specifically designed for wounded, injured, or sick armed services personnel and veterans, showcasing their resilience through competitive sports. The 2017 Games were held in Toronto, highlighting the participation of numerous Canadian military personnel and veterans, thus underscoring the country’s commitment to honoring their sacrifices.

Sport and Militarism

KINE 1000 – Tammy George, PhD: This course examines the intricate relationship between amateur sport and militarism, particularly within the framework of the Canadian Army Run (CAR).

Desjardins on Militarism and CAR:

  • Propaganda Tool: According to Desjardins, the CAR serves as an effective propaganda tool for the Canadian Forces (CF), promoting militaristic values while depoliticizing military actions.

  • Key Findings:

    • The event prioritizes the promotion of the CF over participant race results, which creates a narrative that shines a spotlight on the military rather than individual athlete achievements.

    • Members of the CF are positioned as heroes, fostering a sense of valorization that separates military personnel from civilian Canadians.

    • The CAR functions as a platform for pro-military socialization, indirectly discouraging criticism and promoting unquestioning support for the military.

    • There is a significant gap in existing research regarding the average person's role in sport militarism, indicating a need for further exploration.

Claims and Findings by Desjardins:

  • Part of Larger Propaganda Strategy: Desjardins argues that the CAR is not just a singular event, but a component of a broader propaganda strategy aimed at emphasizing military power over personal athletic triumphs.

  • Disparity in Recognition: The valorization of military members leads to a disparity where the achievements of civilian participants are overshadowed.

  • Socialization Effect: The event socializes participants and the public, further embedding support for the military into societal norms, thereby stifling dissenting opinions about military policy and action.

Significance of the CAR

  • Socialization Agent: The CAR acts as an agent of socialization that encourages a shared national identity, weaving military pride into the fabric of society.

  • Critique of Military Actions: Critiques directed at military operations often morph into critiques of national identity, complicating dissent.

  • Performative Militarism: The event allows participants to mimic soldier roles, inadvertently obscuring the more harsh and authentic experiences associated with military service. This facet tends to sanitize the military image, portraying an idealized version far removed from reality.

Overview of the Invictus Games

  • Concept & Background: Inspired by the Warrior Games in the USA, the Invictus Games were established by Prince Harry, a British Military veteran. The event is centered around the idea of utilizing sport to inspire recovery and rehabilitation among wounded service members. The inaugural Games took place in London in 2014, followed by subsequent events in Orlando (2016), Toronto (2017), Sydney (2018), The Hague (2022), Düsseldorf (2023), and is scheduled to take place in Vancouver in 2025.

Mission of the Invictus Games

The primary mission is to leverage sports as a means to inspire recovery and foster the rehabilitation process, whilst simultaneously generating respect for servicemen and women. The Games showcase the resilience and community spirit of competitors, with quotes from HRH The Duke of Sussex emphasizing the importance of camaraderie and the indomitable human spirit.

Disability Studies

  • Intersectionality: Disability Studies engage with how disability intersects with various social categories, including race and class, thereby revealing the intricate layers of oppression within societal norms.

  • Key Term: Ableism: This term denotes practices and beliefs that devalue individuals with disabilities. The discourse on disability has evolved, redefining these identities as agentive, useful, and integral to community engagement.

Challenges in Disability Studies

  • Medicalization of Disability: There exists a commonly held belief that disabilities represent something needing to be 'fixed', thus fostering a stigma against disabled individuals.

  • Normalization Pressure: Society perpetuates a quest for the 'normal body', which often leads to the stigmatization and marginalization of those with disabilities.

  • Narratives of Overcoming: Many narratives depict overcoming disability as a requisite journey for acceptance and belonging, further complicating the discourse surrounding disability.

Perspectives from Soldier-Athletes

Competitors reflect on the transformative experiences afforded by the Invictus Games:

  • Resurging Purpose: David shares how the Games helped revive a sense of purpose, transcending mere nostalgia for previous achievements.

  • Confidence Boost: Mike highlights a notable boost in confidence thanks to the camaraderie and sportsmanship inherent in the Games, recognizing the importance of sports in his recovery journey.

  • Community Support: Numerous participants mention the feeling of reconnecting with their sense of purpose and appreciating the community support that the Games provide.

Key Questions Raised

The narratives stemming from the Invictus Games raise critical questions about their implications for the broader reintegration of soldiers into civilian life. How do these events reflect or challenge existing societal norms regarding ableism, nationalism, and imperialism?

Promises and Limitations of the Invictus Games

While the Games create opportunities for positive identity formation and communal support that run counter to traditional wartime roles, they also reveal several limitations:

  • Contingencies on Able-bodied Standards: Despite fostering self-reliance and social networks, the emphasis on able-bodied standards can marginalize those whose experiences do not fit within this framework.

  • Myth of Meritocracy: The event risks oversimplifying individual journeys by reinforcing the myth of meritocracy in competitive sports.

  • Critiques from Veterans: Many veterans express dissatisfaction with the disparity between elite participation in events like the Invictus Games and the everyday struggles faced by many veterans, highlighting the need for more comprehensive support and recognition.

Conclusion on Promises and Limitations

Sean Bryea’s reflections articulate a tension between inspired achievements showcased at the Games and the harsh realities confronting many veterans off the field. The continued glorification of militarism in civilian life portrayed through the Invictus Games serves to distract from crucial critiques of war and imperialism, necessitating a deeper understanding of the backdrop of military culture in celebrating such events.

Connection Between Sport and Militarism

This section investigates how sport serves to promote military culture and diminish political opposition to militaristic actions. There is a crucial need for awareness regarding how sporting events manufacture consent for the military-industrial complex, simplifying the multifaceted nature of war into mere entertainment.