Prince Harry was welcomed in Toronto on Monday, as he launched the 2017 Invictus Games at Royal York Hotel ahead of this year’s being held in Orlando.
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau joined the Prince and addressed a hall of Canadian servicemen and servicewomen to thanked them for their service.
“These individuals are, as the name of the event suggests, unconquerable,” said Mr. Trudeau, referencing the fact that Invictus is Latin for unconquered.
Prince Harry said: “The Toronto Games are going to be, I’m promised, the biggest and best Invictus Games yet.”
The Toronto competition will be the biggest, featuring 600 injured military personnel from 16 countries, and will take place in September 2017. It coincides with the 150th anniversary of Canadian Confederation and the centennial of the Battle of Vimy Ridge of WWI.
One former soldier-turned-politician took to the stage.
“We were at the tip of the spear,” he said of his sniper team in Afghanistan. “We couldn’t afford to think of ourselves as anything but indestructible.”
Ottawa City’s Councillor Jody Mitic lost both his legs below the knee in an Afghan landmine attack.
“That small little explosion took more than flesh and bone – it also took my identity as a soldier, the thing I cherished most,” Mitic said.
“Your Royal Highness, thank you so much for these Games. As soldiers we will march forward together, shoulder to shoulder.”
Two new sports will be included in the Canadian instalment of the games: sledge hockey and golf.
Harry and Mr Trudeau then went to the Athletic centre to start a sledge-hockey match with some of Canada’s hopefuls for the next games.
The Candian Prime Minister also released a video with the country’s Invictus team to rival that of the Obamas, and Prince Harry’s with The Queen.
Justin Trudeau does push ups with two athletes from the team, ending it with a mic drop of his own.
Dear @POTUS, @FLOTUS and @KensingtonRoyal – did someone say “bring it?” Canada’s ready for @InvictusOrlando.https://t.co/TxBAMPvTYs
— Justin Trudeau (@JustinTrudeau) May 2, 2016
The Florida games begin tomorrow, with Prince Harry already being in the US to play in the Sentebale polo cup to raise money for Harry’s other charity.
