Today (29 October), Prince Harry has announced his British team for the 2020 Invictus Games in The Hague.
Consisting of 65 men and women, the team will be captained by a woman for the first time.
The team will represent Britain across 10 different sports, including athletics, archery, wheelchair basketball, cycling, power lifting, indoor rowing, JLR Driving Challenge, wheelchair rugby, swimming and sitting volleyball.
https://www.instagram.com/p/B4Mrm-mnl_X/
BEGINNINGS
Prince Harry launched the Invictus Games in 2014, with the aim of using sport to inspire the physical and mental recovery of ex-Servicemen and women around the world.
In the last five years, the event has continued to grow: 2020 is expected to bring in over 500 competitors from 19 nations to compete in the adapted sports. At the first even in London, 400 competitors from 13 countries took part.
The wait is over. 🎉 🎉 Meet your 65 #TeamUK competitors who will proudly serve their country again at next year’s #InvictusGames in The Hague. Lets do this Team UK! #IG2020 pic.twitter.com/0QgKVgbnT5
— Help for Heroes (@HelpforHeroes) October 29, 2019
2020
2020 will see 65 veterans represent the UK at the Games, 89 per cent of whom are competing at their first ever Games.
The Team UK trials, which were held in Sheffield earlier this year, were attended by over 350 wounded, injured and sick service personnel who competed across nine sports for a place on the team.
The team will travel to The Hague in The Netherlands to compete in spring (9–16 May), for a chance at a medal in one of the sports.
At the launch of Team U.K. today where our Patron, The Duke of Sussex, greeted the 65-strong #InvictusUK team of wounded, injured and sick (WIS) Service personnel. More than 30% are still serving and 89% have never competed at an #InvictusGames pic.twitter.com/GJVVPU7MUc
— Invictus Games Foundation 💛🖤+💜 (@WeAreInvictus) October 29, 2019
IMPACT
The Invictus Games is credited with helping veterans from around the world transition to their new lives on civvy street. Involvement with the Games not only provides a physical and mental challenge, and a target to meet, but also enables ex-military personnel to maintain a link to their time in the services, and meet other veterans in a similar position.
To buy tickets for the 2020 Invictus Games, visit the website here.
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