{"id":75387,"date":"2016-05-03T13:31:16","date_gmt":"2016-05-03T17:31:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/canadianinquirer.net\/v1\/?p=75387"},"modified":"2016-05-04T06:40:48","modified_gmt":"2016-05-04T10:40:48","slug":"prince-harry-launches-countdown-2017-invictus-games-toronto","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/canadianinquirer.net\/v1\/2016\/05\/03\/prince-harry-launches-countdown-2017-invictus-games-toronto\/","title":{"rendered":"Prince Harry launches countdown to the 2017 Invictus Games in Toronto"},"content":{"rendered":"<blockquote class=\"instagram-media\" data-instgrm-captioned data-instgrm-permalink=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/p\/BE6oa06qZKY\/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_medium=loading\" data-instgrm-version=\"12\" style=\" background:#FFF; border:0; border-radius:3px; box-shadow:0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width:658px; min-width:326px; padding:0; width:99.375%; width:-webkit-calc(100% - 2px); width:calc(100% - 2px);\">\n<div style=\"padding:16px;\"> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/p\/BE6oa06qZKY\/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_medium=loading\" style=\" background:#FFFFFF; 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font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:550; line-height:18px;\"> View this post on Instagram<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div style=\"padding: 12.5% 0;\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;\">\n<div>\n<div style=\"background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"background-color: #F4F4F4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div style=\"margin-left: 8px;\">\n<div style=\" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;\"><\/div>\n<div style=\" width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg)\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div style=\"margin-left: auto;\">\n<div style=\" width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);\"><\/div>\n<div style=\" background-color: #F4F4F4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);\"><\/div>\n<div style=\" width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><\/a> <\/p>\n<p style=\" margin:8px 0 0 0; padding:0 4px;\"> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/p\/BE6oa06qZKY\/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_medium=loading\" style=\" color:#000; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px; text-decoration:none; word-wrap:break-word;\" target=\"_blank\">Prince Harry takes part in the ceremonial puck drop at a demonstration sledge hockey game, alongside the Canadian Prime Minister and Mayor of Toronto. The sport will feature at the Invictus Games Toronto 2017.<\/a><\/p>\n<p style=\" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px; margin-bottom:0; margin-top:8px; overflow:hidden; padding:8px 0 7px; text-align:center; text-overflow:ellipsis; white-space:nowrap;\">A post shared by <a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/kensingtonroyal\/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_medium=loading\" style=\" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px;\" target=\"_blank\"> Kensington Palace<\/a> (@kensingtonroyal) on <time style=\" font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px;\" datetime=\"2016-05-02T19:10:58+00:00\">May 2, 2016 at 12:10pm PDT<\/time><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"\/\/www.instagram.com\/embed.js\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p>TORONTO \u2013 Prince Harry launched the official countdown to the 2017 Invictus Games on Monday, promising that the Toronto edition of the Olympic-style sporting event honouring wounded, injured and sick troops would be its biggest yet.<\/p>\n<p>About 600 participants from 16 nations are expected to compete in the event, which is the 31-year-old royal\u2019s brainchild.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThis city will become the focal point for hundreds of men and women who use the pull of Invictus glory to motivate their recovery from physical and mental injuries,\u201d Harry told a gathering of servicemen at Toronto\u2019s Fairmont Royal York Hotel.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cAnd Toronto will take on responsibility for a competition that has the power to inspire millions of people around the world and to remind us all of the amazing contribution that our servicemen, women and veterans make.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Harry said the desire to found the games took root in 2008 while he was serving as an officer in Afghanistan.<\/p>\n<p>He was forced to leave the front lines after his presence in the war-torn region was leaked to the media, potentially endangering the soldiers serving alongside him, he said.<\/p>\n<p>As he was flying home, burdened by a sense of guilt for abandoning his fellow troops, Harry said he had an experience that reminded him that battles were not always confined to the war zone.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cOnce in the air, I stuck my head through the curtain to see three British soldiers, really young lads, younger than me at the time, laid out on stretchers in induced comas. All three wrapped in plastic, missing limbs, with tubes coming out of them everywhere,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThis visceral image was something I&#8217;d never prepared myself for and only heard of. It struck me that this flight was just one of many carrying home men and women whose lives would be changed forever.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Harry said sport is a valuable outlet for soldiers trying to recover from their injuries. Smaller competitions playing out in front of meagre audiences inspired him to create a global platform for troops to showcase their athletic accomplishments, and for spectators to be inspired by their achievements, he said.<\/p>\n<p>Harry was also joined at the event by a number of dignitaries including Ontario Premier Kathleen Wynne and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.<\/p>\n<p>Showing a picture of his grandfather who served during the Second World War, Trudeau said Canada was committed to honouring soldiers during their time on and off the battlefield.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThese individuals, as the name Invictus suggests, are unconquerable,\u201d he said. \u201cAnd this event shines a spotlight on their unwavering strength of character.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Later in the day, Prince Harry and Trudeau traded their formal suits into more relaxed attire when they attended a sledge hockey exhibition game at Ryerson University\u2019s Mattamy Athletic Centre. While there, the royal explained why the sport will be part of the games for the first time next year.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThis is Canada, everything happens on ice, doesn\u2019t it?\u201d Harry quipped, drawing laughter and applause from the crowd.<\/p>\n<p>Harry also explained that the Games provide role models for those who observe them.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cYou young guys, the next generation, these are the perfect people for you to look up to,\u201d he said to the audience of youngsters. \u201cIt\u2019s individuals who have put their life on the line and given service for their country, for their family for their friends.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Trudeau agreed, saying the games give members of the forces a rare chance to step into the public eye.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cTo get a chance to have men and women who have served in the forces step out and compete and show their courage and determination and strength, and to be cheered on with family members and friends and all of Canada in the stands, is a wonderful way for us to say thank you,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n<p>Harry stood behind the bench with Trudeau and Toronto Mayor John Tory cheering on the athletes during a scrimmage. He also posed for selfies with the players, and greeted onlookers behind the glass.<\/p>\n<p>Capt. Simon Mailloux, who lost his leg in an improvised explosive device explosion in Kandahar in 2007, said he felt a kinship with Harry as a fellow veteran.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cHe was in Helmand (province) when I was in Kandahar. He\u2019s been in the mud&#8230; so he knows us,\u201d said Mailloux, who\u2019s suiting up for this year\u2019s event slated for May 8-12 in Orlando, Fla.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThere\u2019s a connection when we talk to him. (He\u2019s) probably the perfect spokesperson for us.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Later on Monday, the prince had a private meeting with Ontario Lt.-Gov. Elizabeth Dowdeswell.<\/p>\n<p>Dylan Atack, 26, Hamilton, was waiting outside Dowdeswell&#8217;s office hoping to get a glimpse of the royal.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI wanted to make it because I got to meet Her Majesty back in 2010 when she was here. Same spot, so hopefully I\u2019ll get lucky again,\u201d he said while holding a \u201cPrince Harry Welcome Eh\u201d sign.<\/p>\n<p>The inaugural Invictus Games were held in London in 2014. The Toronto Games, which will take place between Sept. 26-30, 2017, will be the first to feature a national torch relay across all 32 Canadian military bases and neighbouring communities.<\/p>\n<p>The event will help commemorate Canada\u2019s 150th anniversary as well as significant military milestones such as the battle of Vimy Ridge and the battle of Dieppe.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>TORONTO \u2013 Prince Harry launched the official countdown to the 2017 Invictus Games on Monday, promising that the Toronto edition &hellip;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":33,"featured_media":75388,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[18,16],"tags":[10608,10607],"class_list":["post-75387","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-news-ca","category-news","tag-invictus-games","tag-prince-harry","mauthors-lauren-la-rose","mauthors-paola-loriggio","mauthors-the-canadian-press"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/canadianinquirer.net\/v1\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/75387","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/canadianinquirer.net\/v1\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/canadianinquirer.net\/v1\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/canadianinquirer.net\/v1\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/33"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/canadianinquirer.net\/v1\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=75387"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/canadianinquirer.net\/v1\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/75387\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/canadianinquirer.net\/v1\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/75388"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/canadianinquirer.net\/v1\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=75387"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/canadianinquirer.net\/v1\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=75387"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/canadianinquirer.net\/v1\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=75387"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}