London. -The Invictus Games official opening Ceremony of the first ever Invictus Games took place Wednesday evening, marking the start of the highly
anticipated international sports competition for ‘wounded warriors’ in London.
Watching in the stand was Prince Harry who launched the event in March this year. Alongside him were the Prince of Wales, Duchess of Cornwall and the Duke of Cambridge. 6,500 people gathered on the South Lawn of the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park for the military-themed ceremony also broadcast live on BBC’s The One Show.
The event roared into life with a spectacular Red Arrows fly-past after
a short rendition of the national anthem by the Band of the Irish Guards, the Central Band of the RAF, and the Band of Her Majesty’s Royal Marines,Collingwood. Singer Laura Wright took to the stage followed by actor Idris Elba who recited ‘Invictus’, the famous 1875 poem by William Ernest Henley that proclaims strength in the face of adversity.
The spirit of the poem’s poignant closing lines _’I am the captain of my soul; I am the master of my fate’,can be seen in the ‘I AM’ emblem of the Invictus Games which celebrate what these men and women can achieve, post-injury. Later the flag bearers moved into the ‘I AM’ formation that could be seen from aerial views on camera.
A parade of 416 athletes taking part in nine sports over coming daysfollowed, with competitors from Afghanistan, Australia, Canada,Denmark, Estonia, France, Germany, Georgia,Italy, Netherlands, New Zealand and the USA.
inspiring moments I have had as 1st Lady are when I’ve met wounded warriors like so many of you. You tell me that you’re not just going to recover but that you’re going to thrive. You tell me you’re not just going to walk but you’re
going to run marathons.
“I’ve seen that resilience and drive first hand at the Warrior Games here in the United States and I know people are thrilled that the spirit of those Games
will thrive across the pond in the first ever Invictus Games. So to all of the
competitors here today I just want you to know how incredible you are.You’re inspiring all of us, especially our young people. Inspiring them to believe that if we dig deeper, if we work harder and confront the adversity in our own lives with just a fraction of the courage you show every day, there is nothing we can’t achieve.
“To all the family members and care givers in the audience, I want you
to know that your courage doesn’t go unnoticed either. These heroes wouldn’t
be here today without you. So I want to thank everyone involved in the Invictus
Games, especially the Royal Foundation, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and Prince Harry for sharing these stories of strength and determination with the
world. And while I can’t hide that I hope that Team USA won’t bring home a few gold medals, I want you all to know
how proud my husband and I are of you and how humbled we are by your example. So good luck everybody and have fun out there.”
She welcomed Prince Harry to the stage.
Prince Harry said: “Over the past eight years, I have witnessed the whole cycle
of life changing injury; evacuating soldiers and local Afghans to hospital ; flying home from Afghanistan with some of those critically injured; meeting others in Hospital coming to terms with life changing injuries; and finally trying to keep up with twelve wounded
veterans on our way to the South Pole. I can only begin to imagine how
challenging the journey of recovery is, but the admiration I have for these men
and women, to move beyond their injurie, is limitless.
Last year, through The Royal Foundation, I visited the Warrior Games in the
United States. Seeing people who, only months earlier, had been told they’d never walk again, now winning medals in front of their family and friends. Was
breath-taking. I knew that anyone would be inspired by what these men and women had achieved, not just other Servicemen and women,but all those adjusting to life post injury. Each of them have come such a long way; even making it to the
start line is a huge achievement.
“Their stories are as amazing, as they are unique. However, they all share one
thing – sport. Sport has been the vehicle for their recovery, allowing
them to channel their passion into what can be achieved, rather than what can’t.
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