Invictus Games Come To A Close

The Invictus Games came to a close tonight, with a closing ceremony attended by over 25,000 held at Queen Elizabeth Park.

Featuring performances by James Blunt, the Foo Fighters, Ellie Goulding and the Kaiser Chiefs, as well as the Military Wives Choir. During the concert, all 400 competitors from the 14 competing nations were presented with medals commemorating their participation in the Games.

Prince Harry was given a rapturous cheer as he took the stage, the crowd chanting his name over and over. In his speech, he said how the Games had shown “the very best of the human spirit,” and praised the competitors’ “unconquerable character.”

The Prince also delivered a message from Queen Elizabeth – a “message from Granny”, as he told the crowd. Jokingly beginning with, “It says here: crowd surf, question mark”, he went on to read how the Queen and Prince Philip were “deeply moved” by the “courage, determination and talent” of the competitors.

“All of you have used the power of sport to enhance your own recovery and to raise wider awareness of the enormous challenges faced by wounded veterans,” the Queen’s statement also read.

The Games may become a permanent fixture in the global sporting calendar, with Prince Harry confirming that both the US and Canada have expressed interest in hosting the event in 2016 and 2017. The Prince also expressed his intentions in possibly taking the Games to the north of the country next year.

Filed under The United Kingdom
Tagged Concert, Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom, Invictus Games, Military, Music, Prince Harry of Wales, Sport.