Prince Harry vows to expand Invictus Games mission into schools worldwide
By Victoria Ward
The Duke of Sussex has vowed to take the spirit of the Invictus Games into schools worldwide.
Prince Harry, 40, was in Vancouver, Canada, to promote the first-ever winter games, which will take place in Vancouver and Whistler in February.
He joined students at the Seaforth Armoury for the launch of the first Invictus schools programme, designed to take its message of resilience and courage beyond the military veterans' community.
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Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, with students from the Shaughnessy Elementary School after participating in a sitting volleyball adaptive sport lesson, during an event to launch the Invictus Games school program, in Vancouver on Monday. AP
The Duke said: "Meeting the kids today, seeing them learn about the Invictus Games has had a profound impact on me because this is where Invictus starts to go even wider, outside of the Invictus community, into schools in Canada and hopefully around the world as well."
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The Duke said he had been impressed by their "willingness to learn and to understand" and that he was inspired by the poems they had read.
Secondary school pupils had learnt the Invictus poem by William Ernest Henley, discussing how they might relate to it or take inspiration from it in their own lives.
Prince Harry's Invictus Games will be held in winter next year for the first time. AP
Younger children designed their own posters describing their positive attributes before the Duke took part in a spirited game of seated volleyball.
He later told all involved that they were invited to the opening ceremony of next year's games, which he said was one of his personal highlights of the sporting event for sick and injured military personnel.
Prince Harry was in his element during the school visit. AP
"To see these individuals, from around the world, 25 nations coming together to their own music," he added.
"Some dance, some sing, some with selfie sticks but ultimately, with huge smiles on their faces, some overcome with emotion because it is the first time for them to be wearing the flag of their country on their sleeve once again.
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Marjorie Yuan, center right, speaks with Prince Harry in Vancouver on Monday. AP
"I want all of you, especially the kids here and young people, to imagine what it's like for these individuals, the challenges they have overcome to be amongst team members again, wearing the same strip, wearing the flag on their chest or their arm, coming out into a stadium full of tens of thousands of people cheering for them.
"You need to understand what that means to them because that can be a life-altering moment.
"There is resilience that has got them there, there is teamwork that has managed to get them to the starting line and there is courage in getting them to that point."
The Duke added: "Thank you all for your interest, your love, your heart, your soul and your commitment to learning more about Invictus. We'll see you in 82 days."
Since the inaugural Invictus Games in London in 2014, the event has been held in Orlando, Toronto, Sydney, the Hague and Dusseldorf.
In July 2027, it will be hosted in Birmingham, marking its first return to the UK.
© Telegraph Media Group Limited 2024
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