University News Last updated 12 November
Birmingham City University (BCU) and Invictus Games Birmingham 2027 have launched a new research project that will place the lived experience of the wounded, injured and sick (WIS) community at the heart of shaping more accessible events for the future.
The research will explore how members of the WIS community and Invictus Games stakeholders experience and navigate event venues before, during and after the Invictus Games Birmingham 2027, which take place from 10-17 July 2027.
Accessibility can influence every stage of attending an event, from buying a ticket and travelling to a venue, through to feeling welcomed, included, and able to participate with confidence. This research will look beyond compliance with accessibility standards to understand people's real-world experiences, exploring what enables positive experiences, where challenges exist and how future events can be improved.
Data collection will begin in November 2026 and continue until September 2027, enabling researchers to understand attendees' expectations ahead of the Games, capture their lived experiences during the event itself, and explore their reflections afterwards.
The findings will support the development of a venue accessibility framework informed directly by the experiences and expectations of participants. The framework could provide practical guidance for event organisers, venue operators and stakeholders delivering sporting events, concerts, conferences, exhibitions and other public gatherings.
The project reflects Invictus Games Birmingham 2027’s commitment to listening to and learning from the community at the heart of the Games, ensuring lived experience helps shape future thinking around accessibility and inclusion.
Jules Merrison, Director of Impact, Invictus Games Birmingham 2027, said:
"The Invictus Games is built on the experiences of the wounded, injured and sick community, so it is important that their voices help shape the learning and legacy of Birmingham 2027. This partnership with Birmingham City University forms a key part of our Impact Strategy, giving us an opportunity to capture individual experiences in a meaningful way and creating tangible insights that can benefit not only future Invictus Games but also the wider events sector."
Dr Shauna Kearney, Senior Lecturer in Sport and Event Management at BCU, added:
“We want this research to go beyond asking whether a venue is technically accessible. We want to understand what accessibility actually means to the people experiencing an event, and how the physical environment can shape their overall experience. The Invictus Games taking place in Birmingham gives us a unique opportunity to explore this in depth, but our ambition is for the learning to have a much larger impact. By putting lived experience at the centre of the research, we hope to provide practical evidence that can help shape how events are designed, planned and delivered in the future.”
The findings will be shared through academic and industry publications, contributing to wider discussions around accessibility, venue design and inclusive event experiences.
As Birmingham prepares to welcome competitors, families and supporters from around the world in July 2027, the partnership aims to ensure the Games leave a meaningful legacy of learning that extends beyond sport and benefits the entire events sector.
Dr Libby Carter, Senior Lecturer and Course Leader for BA(Hons) Events Management at BCU, concluded:
“Events are about much more than what happens on the field, on the stage or in the conference room. The experience begins long before that and is shaped by the venue and the environment around it. The Invictus Games provides an important opportunity to listen to the people who are experiencing these spaces. Ultimately, we want this research to help move the conversation around accessibility forward, ensuring it is considered as part of the whole event experience.”
To learn more about Invictus Games Birmingham 2027 Impact Strategy and receive updates on preparations for the Games, visithttps://www.invictusgames2027.org/strategy