By MIKE CORDER Associated Press April 16, 2022, 6:40 p.m. • 3 minutes reading Share to Facebook Share to Twitter Email this article THE HAGUE, NETHERLANDS – The Invictus Games competition for the wounded, injured and sick staff and veterans opened in the Netherlands on Saturday night with applause and a tribute from Prince Harry to members of the Ukrainian team who were left devastated. to fight. With Harry and his wife Megan in the front row for the opening ceremony, the contestants cheered for almost a minute as the Ukrainian team waved their country’s blue and yellow flag after Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte welcomed them to the event, which was two years late. from the coronavirus pandemic. Harry founded the Invictus Games to help heal injured or sick military members and veterans by challenging them to compete in Paralympic-like sporting events. Welcoming all the contestants, Harry singled out the Ukrainian team and its supporters. “Your courage to choose to come and be here tonight cannot be overstated,” he said, a day after meeting with Ukrainians at a reception. “You know, we’re by your side. The world is united with you. And you deserve more. “And I hope that these events, this event, will create the opportunity … for how we as a global community can perform better for you,” Harry added. Megan took the stage before Harry and introduced him, saying: “I could not love and respect him more. “And I know you all feel the same way, because your colleague is a veteran, having served two terms in Afghanistan and 10 years in the military.” He called Harry “the founder of Invictus Games and the father of our two little ones, Archie and Lily.” Earlier in the day, the Dutch prime minister said that portraits of Invictus athletes placed around The Hague, the city hosting this year’s competition, underscored the “strength of the opponent in the face of adversity, vulnerability and strength”. “These are your stories, your lines of salvation and the events that are unfolding now in Ukraine make them even more resonant. “I would like to extend a special welcome to the Ukrainian team,” he said as applause and cheers erupted. The Ukrainians – many of whom are taking a short break from defending their country against the Russian invasion that sparked a devastating war – are among 500 athletes from 20 nations competing in the race, which runs through April 22. Earlier Saturday, racing began with a driving challenge around an obstacle course. Harry came close to the action when he was led along the way. Later, he and Megan nodded to the spectators as they drove around in tiny Land Rover cars with children at the wheel. From Sunday, the competitors will take part in track and field, archery, cycling, indoor rowing, powerlifting, sitting volleyball, swimming, wheelchair basketball and wheelchair rugby. On Friday, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, also known as Harry and Megan, attended a welcoming event for competitors and their friends and family. It was the couple’s first public appearance in Europe since leaving their official royal roles and moving to the US more than two years ago, citing unbearable pressure from their roles and the racist behavior of the British media. On Thursday, the couple visited Harry’s grandmother, 95-year-old Queen Elizabeth II, at Windsor Castle. The queen has been struggling with mobility problems lately.


title: “Invictus Games Opens With Prince Harry Tribute To Ukrainians " ShowToc: true date: “2022-12-07” author: “Andrea Haynes”


With Harry and his wife Megan in the front row for the opening ceremony, the contestants cheered for almost a minute as the Ukrainian team waved their country’s blue and yellow flag after Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte welcomed them to the event, which was two years late. from the coronavirus pandemic. Harry founded the Invictus Games to help heal injured or sick military members and veterans by challenging them to compete in Paralympic-like sporting events. Welcoming all the contestants, Harry singled out the Ukrainian team and its supporters. “Your courage to choose to come and be here tonight cannot be overstated,” he said, a day after meeting with Ukrainians at a reception. “You know, we’re by your side. The world is united with you. And you deserve more. “And I hope that these events, this event, will create the opportunity … for how we as a global community can perform better for you,” Harry added. Megan took the stage before Harry and introduced him, saying: “I could not love and respect him more. “And I know you all feel the same way, because your colleague is a veteran, having served two terms in Afghanistan and 10 years in the military.” He called Harry “the founder of Invictus Games and the father of our two little ones, Archie and Lily.” Earlier in the day, the Dutch prime minister said that portraits of Invictus athletes placed around The Hague, the city hosting this year’s competition, underscored the “strength of the opponent in the face of adversity, vulnerability and strength”. “These are your stories, your lines of salvation and the events that are unfolding now in Ukraine make them even more resonant. “I would like to extend a special welcome to the Ukrainian team,” he said as applause and cheers erupted. The Ukrainians – many of whom are taking a short break from defending their country against the Russian invasion that sparked a devastating war – are among 500 athletes from 20 nations competing in the race, which runs through April 22. Earlier Saturday, racing began with a driving challenge around an obstacle course. Harry came close to the action when he was led along the way. Later, he and Megan nodded to the spectators as they drove around in tiny Land Rover cars with children at the wheel. From Sunday, the competitors will take part in track and field, archery, cycling, indoor rowing, powerlifting, sitting volleyball, swimming, wheelchair basketball and wheelchair rugby. On Friday, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, also known as Harry and Megan, attended a welcoming event for competitors and their friends and family. It was the couple’s first public appearance in Europe since leaving their official royal roles and moving to the US more than two years ago, citing unbearable pressure from their roles and the racist behavior of the British media. On Thursday, the couple visited Harry’s grandmother, 95-year-old Queen Elizabeth II, at Windsor Castle. The queen has been struggling with mobility problems lately.