The Impact Of The Invictus Games

Explosive start of athlete with handicap at the stadium

What are the Invictus Games and what impact do the games have on competitors? As well as inspiring future armed forces casualties.

The Invictus Games are a paralympic style multi sport event created in 2013 and first launched in 2014. The creator and founder of the Invictus Games is Prince Harry of Wales. The games are designed for the wounded and injured armed service personnel to use sport and competition to help rehabilitate mentally and physically, whilst inspiring the world of disability that you can do something amazing and special no matter your limitations and life experiences. The games include a wide, various range of sport’s including wheelchair basketball, sitting volleyball and indoor rowing as well as many, many others. The games are named after Invictus, Latin for “Unconquered, undefeated”. The United States of America hold a very similar event called the ‘warrior games’. The first Invictus games took place in March 2014 at the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park in London. The second instalment of the Games has recently started on the 8^th May 2016 at the ESPN wide world of sports, Disney World, Orlando, Florida. The 2017 Invictus Games will be held in Toronto, Canada.

Prince Harry of Wales came up with the idea of starting the Invictus games after witnessing the USA’s similar version called the Warrior games as mentioned before. He felt inspired and responsible to create these games after having served in Afghanistan, and witnessing what soldiers and veterans had to go through present and post combat, therefore wanting to give something back to the true heroes of this nation. With the backing of London mayor Boris Johnson, the organising committee of the paralympic games and the ministry of defence, it was planned and put together within just an incredible 10 months. The Royal foundation funded £1million, which was doubled by the chancellor George Osbourne.

At the 2014 launch, Prince Harry of Wales announced that the Invictus Games would, “Demonstrate the power of sport to inspire recovery and support rehabilitation”. He also goes on to mention that he wants to ensure injured troops were not forgotten as Britain’s involvement within the war in Afghanistan comes towards an end. A few examples of what the Invictus Games does for the competitors themselves…..

“Up until my awareness of the Invictus Games, all I had been doing was living in memories. In my mind my life has been over and I was just waiting to be done because I’m not capable of doing or living like I used to. I’m starting to think however, that my game has just begun.”

Competitor, Team USA

“I knew it would be special but this has been something else. I can’t sum it up in words. We’ve been humbled by the support everyone has given us. We just want to say thank you to everyone. This has meant so much.”