The first lady has also been a passionate advocate for veterans and recognizing the service of military families.
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US First Lady Michelle Obama, who has actively promoted the event, said the Invictus games are “about shining this big, bright light on all of you…so that we all can be inspired to live up to your example”.
For the athletes it’s just an opportunity to compete, serve their country and to regain that sense of team they once enjoyed in their respective military branches.
Athletes will compete in 10 sports – archery, indoor rowing, powerlifting, road cycling, sitting volleyball, swimming, track and field, wheelchair basketball, wheelchair rugby and wheelchair tennis.
Prince Harry is patron of the Invictus Games Foundation and founded the Invictus Games for injured war veterans in 2014 to use the power of sport to help their recovery and rehabilitation. They are being held in Orlando at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex inside the Disney World resort. “You probably shouldn’t be worrying about having these people in your office”. I wanted to be one of the guys. “It’s certainly given me a sort of objective in life”.
But it was Prince Harry, the man everyone was truly waiting for, who put into words the incredible meaning of the Invictus Games and why he has fought so hard to make it a global initiative.
US First Lady Michelle Obama, a long-time supporter of US veterans, joined Harry, along with Hollywood actor Morgan Freeman and Defence Secretary Michael Fallon.
Prince Harry said ahead of the opening that he hoped the Games would “smash the stigma” surrounding military mental health issues in the same way the London event had helped people come to terms with physical wounds.
“These Games have shone a spotlight on the “unconquerable” character of service men and women and their families and their “Invictus” spirit”. It’s not just our veterans. But for those who do need support he, along with Michelle Obama, want to de-stigmatize the topic so those who need it can “go out and get the support they need”, she clarified.
“All throughout the evening, he said, ‘Uncle Harry, why are you so quiet?”
“If or when I do find a girlfriend”, he said, “I will do my utmost to ensure that me and her can get to the point where we’re actually comfortable with each other before the massive invasion that is inevitably going to happen into her privacy”. You see him in the back helping everybody – the same as President Bush he’s been round to see me today.
“Their stories are as unbelievable as they are unique”.
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“This is a way to keep who you are now, who you’ve developed and tie together the great things you did in your life”, Rios said.
