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Royal Marine Luke Darlington spoke before the Invictus Games
even began about the impact the closing ceremony will have,
“Everyone will have worked really hard to train and compete to
represent the British Armed Forces team as best they can during
these fantastic Invictus Games. The closing concert will be a
brilliant way of drawing the events to a close. It will allow
everybody to look back and reflect on what has been achieved not
only in the build-up but during the Games as well.”
The Invictus Games were launched by Prince Harry earlier this year
after he was inspired by the Warrior Games in the USA. Harry aimed
to use the event to use the power of sport to inspire recovery as
well as supporting rehabilitation. The Games were organised with
the support and backing of the Royal Foundation of The Duke and
Duchess of Cambridge and Prince Harry as well as the Ministry of
Defence.
Ahead of their performance at the concert, the Foo Fighters had
this to say, “Invictus Games, look out, the Foo Fighters are
coming. What a perfect way to finally return to the UK for the
first time in years, its been way too long. Thanks for having us,
it is truly an honour to play for these incredible men and
women.”
As well as the headline acts, the closing ceremony also saw Ryan
Adams, Diversity, Military Wives Choir and James Blunt perform.
James Blunt commented, “The men and women of the service community
deserve all our support. I am so pleased to be a supporter of The
Invictus Games and very honoured to be performing at this years
closing concert.”
The event started at 5pm and highlights broadcasted on the BBC. The
star guest at the ceremony was of course Prince Harry who also gave
the thumbs up for the event, “I am hugely grateful to all the
artists and organisers for coming together to put on what will be a
truly awesome concert. It will be a celebration of everything the
competitors have achieved over the four days of the Invictus Games,
not to mention the efforts of the hundreds of other athletes we
couldn’t fit into the teams this year. And for those who didn’t
make it back from operations, this is also for you.”
The Invictus Games were began on 10th September 2014 and ran until
14th September 2014. The multi sport event for wounded servicemen
and women saw competitors from 13 nations compete in sports such as
Indoor Rowing, Road cycling and wheelchair basketball. It has since
been suggested that the Invictus Games could become an annual
competition.
All that is left to do is to say on behalf of Royal Central, thank
you to Prince Harry and to the competitors for a truly remarkable
and inspiring sporting spectacular, here is to The Invictus Games
2015!
Photo Credit: Invictus Games 2014]]>
