Prince Harry handed toy for Baby Archie as he launches Brit team of wounded veterans for Invictus Games The Hague 2020
PRINCE Harry was handed a toy for baby Archie today as he launched the British team of injured military vets set to compete in the next Invictus Games.
He unveiled the group of 65 men and women for The Hague 2020 games, with its first female captain.
Harry staged the first Invictus Games in 2014, and last month celebrated the sporting event's fifth anniversary describing the games as having changed society's perception of disability and mental health.
He appeared relaxed and happy today as he chatted to the athletes. It comes amid reports of a rift between the prince and his brother.
In a documentary which aired last week, the Duke of Sussex admitted he and Prince William have grown apart.
And earlier this week we revealed Harry and his wife Meghan Markle, 38, may be considering a move abroad.
But this morning the prince posed cheerfully with the team – who will compete in nine sports from athletics, archery, wheelchair basketball, cycling, power lifting, indoor rowing, wheelchair rugby, swimming and sitting volleyball.
He told them "it's going to be awesome", adding: "This is an opportunity for you guys to be serving your country again."
The prince said to one group "make sure you enjoy every single moment and look after each other" and in a lighter moment he made a quip about the Dutch hosts of the 2020 Games and a sweet treat popular in Holland.
Harry said: "You've got to like orange and make sure you don't eat too many stroopwafel."
Team captain, RAF veteran Rachel Williamson, previously received a rugby injury, which developed into a functional neurological disorder and left her unable to use her arm.
She said this year was an opportunity to "build" a new version of herself and take the "final step" to where she wants to be.
The veteran described the Invictus Games "as an amazing opportunity through sport to regain that sense of pride which can be lost following the onset of mental or physical disabilities".
Training will continue until May in various locations across the country as part of Help for Heroes' extensive Sports Recovery programme and role to train and develop the team.
Hannah Lawton, of Help for Heroes and Chef de Mission for Team UK, said: "The 65 men and women selected to represent Team UK will not only gain a personal recovery benefit from taking part in the Games but they will hopefully inspire others suffering with life-changing injuries or illnesses that anything is possible."
Harry was inspired to found the global tournament after attending the Warrior Games in Colorado in 2013 and seeing how injured American military personnel thrived on the challenge of taking part in competitive sports that aided their recovery.
He went on to stage the inaugural games in London's Olympic Park in 2014, followed by Orlando in 2016, Toronto in 2017 and Sydney in 2018, with The Hague chosen for the 2020 event where 500 competitors will take part in 10 adaptive sports.
Organisers have said that after 2020, Invictus will be staged every two years.
Source: Read Full Article