If the world didn’t adore Prince Harry enough, he’s given them reason to love him even more. The 29-year-old prince has done something wonderful for sick, injured and wounded vets. He’s created a special paralympic type games for them that he calls the Invictus Games, which opened this week in London. The games are designed to honor and salute vets who were wounded in combat from across the world, and the opening ceremonies this week were his own personal dream come true.
In front of 6,500 people, Prince Harry welcomed the vets to the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park in London to commence the games. He became quite emotional when introducing the men and women who have fought for the freedoms of their respective countries, and he showed great admiration for their hard work, sacrifice and dedication.
“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 12 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 injuries, is limitless,” he said to the crowd.
His reason for creating the games is to provide sport to the injured, as he said to the crowd. He said that the games are “the vehicle for their recovery, allowing them to channel their passion into what can be achieved, rather than what can’t. No longer are these inspirational men and women defined by their injury, but as athletes, competitors and teammates,” he said of his desire to give them hope and meaning.
(Photo by Chris Jackson/Getty Images)
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