Prince Harry and his Invictus Games

 

The Invictus games is an event set up by none other than Prince Harry. The games which take its name from the Latin ‘Unconquered’ started in 2014 in the London Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park after Harry witnessed the American warrior games. He aimed to produce something similar that would allow servicemen and women to compete against each other from all over the world not just the USA. This year it arrived in Florida and had the backing of the biggest names in the world too.

 

The games have been backed by none other than the Obama family whilst Harry also kept it in the family with his Grandmother. In a promotional video Obama and his wife Michelle challenge Harry to compete at Invictus and the Queen replies with a candid “oh please”. Watch it here. Michelle has been very focused on veterans families since becoming first lady so it is no surprise she was giving it her backing.

 

The competition has been a personal crusade for the Prince who started it from nothing to becoming multi million pound funded. It is close to his heart for two reasons. One is that he wants to continue the legacy of his mother in giving back to the world and using his position for good. And second is that as a former member of the British Army he feels strongly about the men and women who serve in the Armed forces. Harry himself was in the Blues and Royals as well as an Apache pilot for the Army Air Corp, serving on active duty twice. He knows the price men and women pay and has devoted these games not just to the injuries you can see but hidden ones too. Speaking at the opening ceremony on Sunday the Prince said “Every single one of them will have confronted tremendous emotional and mental challenges. When we give a standing ovation to the competitor with the missing limbs, let’s also cheer our hearts out for the man who overcame anxiety so severe he couldn’t leave his house. Let’s cheer for the woman who fought through post-traumatic stress and let’s celebrate the soldier who was brave enough to get help for his depression.”

 

 

 

14 nations are represented here in Florida from Britain to Afghanistan. They will compete in a myriad of events from Athletics to Wheelchair Rugby. The athletes will be wounded, injured or sick armed personnel and it aims to give someone struggling to come back from injuries to have purpose. Sport can be a powerful tool for healing and it is hoped the Invictus Games will let people know that depression or PTSD is not a life sentence, but curable. Though these brave service men and women were dealt a bad hand while on active duty, the Invictus games is a way for them to not only get better themselves, but inspire people in a similar position to do so to. Gio Muratore of Betting Tips Stars says “Paralympics watch out!”