Prince Harry Brings Invictus Games to Florida

Daily News Article   —   Posted on May 12, 2016

(Voice of America News) – The 2016 Invictus Games began this week in Orlando, Florida.

The games are a sports competition, similar to the Olympics, for former soldiers injured in combat.

Britain’s Prince Harry started the games in 2014. He also served in the British military for 10 years. That time included two tours of duty in Afghanistan. At the end of his military service, he founded the games.

The first competition was in London. Harry said the games serve as motivation for wounded soldiers working their way back to health.

The games take place over five days and include 10 competitions. Closing ceremonies are May 12.

Fifteen countries are sending athletes to the event. They include Afghanistan, Australia, Canada, Denmark, Estonia, France, Georgia, Germany, Iraq, Italy, Jordan, Netherlands, New Zealand, the UK and the U.S. More than 500 athletes are attending.

The athletes compete in events including: archery, indoor rowing, powerlifting, road cycling, sitting volleyball, swimming, track & field, wheelchair basketball, wheelchair rugby and wheelchair tennis. The presenting partner Jaguar Land Rover also organized a driving challenge.

In a video message announcing the 2016 games, Prince Harry said the first games “focused the recovery of hundreds of wounded servicemen and women through sport … and inspired many hundreds more.”

In another video, Prince Harry says the goal is to use the Invictus Games as a way for wounded soldiers to “get up off the sofa, dare themselves to do something, whether it’s sport, whatever it is.”

William Reynolds

William Reynolds is the captain of the team from the United States.

He was injured by shrapnel from a bomb in Baghdad, Iraq in 2004. Reynolds recovered well enough to return to duty, but had his left leg amputated in 2013.

Reynolds competed in short running and longer cycling events at the Invictus Games in 2014 and is competing in the same events this year.

In an interview with Fox Sports, he said competing at Invictus is a good goal for people recovering from war injuries. Getting ready for a competition provides purpose for people who may be tired of physical therapy.

“Adaptive sports helped me become an athlete again,” Reynolds said.

The name Invictus comes from a 19^th-century poem by English poet William Ernest Henley. [The speaker in the poem proclaims his strength in the face of adversity.]

In Latin, the word invictus means unconquered.

Reprinted here for educational purposes only from Voice of America Learning English. May not be reproduced on other websites without permission from the VOA .com.

Power lifter Michael Yule, who lost both legs to a Taliban bomb in Afghanistan, as he lifted 418.9 pounds to win the first gold medal for Britain.

Prince Harry cheered on the competitors, including Britain’s power lifter Michael Yule, who lost both legs to a Taliban bomb in Afghanistan, as he lifted 418.9 pounds to win the first gold medal for Britain.  Harry presented the medal to Yule, and the two men clasped hands and hugged each other.

Yule said:

“Prince Harry is a top lad and he knows where we’re coming from. That’s the thing, there’s no sympathy – we don’t want that – it’s just we’re the lads, he’s a lad, we’re getting on with it, and he’s a prince second to us.

He’s such a supporter of all injured servicemen worldwide now and I’m sure everybody looks upon that. He puts a lot of pressure on people – high people – to make sure the boys are looked after. I’m sure we’d be in a worse place without him.