here.
“To all of the competitors here today, I want you to know how incredible you are. You’re inspiring all of us, especially our young people,” she continued. “You’re inspiring them to believe that if we dig deeper, if we work harder, if we confront the adversity in our own lives with just a fraction of the courage you show every day that there’s nothing we can’t achieve. To all the family members and caregivers in the audience, I want you to know that your courage and support doesn’t go unnoticed either. These heroes wouldn’t be here today without you.”
After her words, Prince Harry took the stage to welcome the competitors, their families and caregivers, and those in attendance to watch the Invictus Games.
“It gives me great pleasure to welcome the 13 nations to London and to say how delighted that many of you have been joined by your families, and we recognize the vital part they play in your recovery,” he said to the competitors. “Over the next four days, we will see some truly remarkable achievements. For some of those taking part, this will be a stepping stone to elite sport, but for others, it will mark the end of chapter in their recovery and the beginning of a new one.
“Either way, you can be sure everyone who takes part in the track, pool or field of play will be giving it their all, and I have no doubt lives will be changed this weekend,” he said.
The Invictus Games will take place Sept. 10-14 at the site of the 2012 summer Olympics and will feature athletes from 14 nations competing in various Paralympic-style events including swimming, track and field, seated volleyball, wheelchair basketball and wheelchair rugby, among others.