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The Sussexes

Arrival at Invictus 2016

I arrived at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex this afternoon. It’s a hot, lovely day in Orlando today, which bodes well for the next days competition events.

Prior to the official start of the games was an international symposium hosted by the George W. Bush Institute. I’ll be bringing you more on that event because it ties in nicely with the Invictus games themselves. This four-hour event focused on the invisible wounds soldiers receive during battle such as Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, (PTSD), and traumatic brain injury.

The symposium included panels of physicians, soldiers, veterans and military personnel along with Prince Harry and former President George W. Bush. The goal of the symposium was to shed light on these invisible wounds; how those suffering from them can effectively be integrated back in to society and how caregivers and face down stigmas and stereotypes associated with these invisible wounds of war.

Tonight at 8 p.m. Eastern Time, the Opening Ceremonies will commense with appearances by Prince Harry, Morgan Freeman, First Lady of the United States, Michelle Obama, and military performances. James Blunt and Laura Wright are slated to perform as well.

Athletes from all 14 countries have arrived, and Renowned actor and director, Tony Goldwyn saluted the 2016 Invictus Games athletes. Mr. Goldwyn is President Fitzgerald Grant on ABC’s Scandal. Yesterday, preliminary rounds were completed.
In the preliminary swimming, the United States and the UK were neck and neck until the UK took the lead, winning the majority of the heats.

The UK’s Zoe William’s, had this to say about her win in the women 50-meter freestyle. “For me, the Invictus Games has given me something to focus on and something to train for. The confidence I’ve got from achieving things in the gym that I never thought I would be able to achieve has massively transferred across into the rest of my life.”

Stay tuned as I will be bringing you more from Orlando tomorrow. I also have a few interviews on the way as well, so keep it right here at Royal Central.

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