The Invictus Games were started by Prince Harry in 2014 and is a worldwide sporting event for wounded, injured and sick servicemen and women.
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British singers James Blunt and Laura Wright performed at the two-hour ceremony before Oscar-winning actor Morgan Freeman led the crowd at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Champion Stadium in reciting the Invictus Games pledge.
Former President George W. Bush, second from left, honors Air Force Master Sgt. Israel Del Toro, second from right, along with Del Toro’s wife Carmen, left, and son Isreal Jr. during the opening ceremony for the Invictus Games, Sunday, May 8, 2016, in Kissimmee, Fla.
In his speech to the spectators, Harry said that although physical illness can be most visible, mental illness had also been a hard struggle for many competitors.
“Let’s cheer for the women who fought through post traumatic stress and let’s celebrate the soldier who was courageous enough to get help for his depression”.
Earlier in the day Mr Bush’s institute hosted a symposium, attended by Harry, discussing the invisible or psychological and mental wounds military veterans can suffer.
The Games will be taking place in Florida for five days, and will see more than 500 athletes from 14 countries competing in a range of sports including cycling, tennis and basketball.
Prince Harry has revealed why he doesn’t have a girlfriend – and why those waiting for him to settle down may have to wait a little longer.
He went on to explain what the Invictus Games are truly about – supporting wounded veterans who have given their all, both in and out of the combat zone.
The Invictus Choir of injured United Kingdom and USA veterans, whose rehearsals were shown on BBC One, sang the song Flesh and Blood.
“I’ve had the privilege of meeting so many of you, and like Prince Harry, I am so incredibly inspired by all of you”, Michelle Obama said during the the Games’ opening. “But she sure as hell would be proud of me, hopefully, that I am doing it”, he says in an interview today with the Sunday Times. The Prince was on his best behaviour as he was welcoming US President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle to Kensington Palace last month.
“Throughout he was like, ‘Uncle Harry, why are you so quiet?'” said Michelle.
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“I don’t get any satisfaction from sitting at home on my arse, and that’s a body part by the way not a swear word”. I don’t know who I am going to bump into, I don’t know if someone’s going to try and grab a “selfie”.
