The Invictus Games have arrived in Vancouver. On Saturday February 7, the opening ceremony celebrated the healing power of sports and the resilience of war veterans from over 20 countries at BC place. The ceremony included a concert lineup with celebrated artists such as Nelly Furtado, Katy Perry and Noah Kahan.
The origin of the name Invictus comes from a poem published in 1888 by William Earnest Henley. The musician Chris Martin performed the Invictus anthem at the ceremony, where he used the poem as the lyrics and composed the score to go along with them.. He thanked the founder, Prince Harry Duke of Sussex, for inviting him to perform the inspirational song that celebrates the power of human souls to persevere even in the darkest of times.
BC Place was full of people cheering on the athletes and singing along with the artists. A sea of blue, sparkly pom-poms gave life to the stadium as the screen played the testimonies of different athletes as they recounted just how impactful the Invictus Games have been in their life after serving their country.
By having an incredible lineup of artists, the games enticed the city of Vancouver to witness the strength of these men and women who have sacrificed their lives to serve the greater good. The ceremony highlighted the importance of finding new meaning to life even when it may seem hard to continue fighting, to continue living. “Sport has the ability to heal and save lives,” said Prince Harry when addressing the crowd.
The Invictus Games surely have provided hundreds of veterans with a new motivation to continue their journey through life. By highlighting, not only physical but mental health as well, these games provide an opportunity to persevere through the harshest of adversities. By uniting music with sports, the opening ceremony gave the city a glimpse of what it means to be unconquered and showcased the strength of those who have served their countries.
The Invictus Games will continue until February 16 in both Vancouver and Whistler. With adaptive sports like wheelchair basketball, Nordic skiing, curling, among others, the games unite over 500 athletes who want to show the world and themselves just how important sports are to become unconquered. We hope you can attend any game to experience the incredible strength these men and women portray in their everyday lives.
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