Blood money row as Harry’s ‘Olympics’ for war injured are backed by Britain’s biggest arms dealer
INJURED British troops competing in Prince Harry’s Invictus Games are to wear the logo of the UK’s biggest arms exporter in an ‘immoral’ sponsorship deal condemned by veterans and humanitarian campaigners.
Members of the Invictus UK team will wear shirts with the logo of BAE Systems for the first time when they compete at trials in Sheffield later this month after the company paid a six-figure sum.
The arms manufacturer has sold billions of pounds of weaponry around the world, including to Saudi Arabia for its war in Yemen, which began in 2015. Since then, many thousands of civilians have been killed or maimed amid allegations of war crimes.
Last night, Amnesty International accused BAE Systems of attempting to ‘sportswash’ its reputation.
Former Special Forces soldier Ben Griffin, who served with the SAS in Iraq, said: ‘It seems deeply inappropriate for BAE to sponsor a team of disabled war veterans at a sporting contest when arms sold by this company to Saudi Arabia have wounded so many people, leaving them disabled.’
Prince Harry – who counts many Invictus UK members as friends – is patron of the Invictus Foundation, which is responsible for the Games.
‘This is akin to Dracula sponsoring a blood bank’
Around 350 Invictus UK competitors will wear the BAE Systems’ logo, with 65 of them then travelling to Holland for the 2020 Games.
BAE Systems is heavily involved in the Yemen war, where a coalition led by Saudi Arabia is carrying out air strikes in an attempt to restore the former Yemeni government.
The company has about 6,000 employees in Saudi Arabia servicing its fighter jets, missiles and other weapons used in Yemen.
There have been numerous accusations of war crimes committed by the Saudis, including the bombing of hospitals and schools.
On June 20, the Court of Appeal in London ruled that the export licence granted to BAE Systems was unlawful because the British Government had failed to assess whether the Saudi-led coalition had violated international humanitarian law in Yemen.
Existing licences between Britain and Saudi Arabia are under review, but remain in place.
Kate Allen, director of Amnesty International UK, said: ‘This is yet another example of big business using sporting sponsorship to sportswash its reputation.
‘During more than four years of devastating war in Yemen, the Saudi Arabia-led coalition has used British-made bombs that have killed thousands in indiscriminate air strikes that have hit hospitals, schools, weddings and funerals.
‘Is that really who Prince Harry wants to be seen supporting the Invictus Games?’
Royal author Penny Junor said: ‘It is an unfortunate choice of partner. The Invictus Games was such a brilliant idea and is such a fantastic concept – Prince Harry at his best and Britain at its best.
‘It was something to be so proud of and I fear that this might just taint the whole thing.’
Andrew Smith, director of the Campaign Against Arms Trade, added: ‘This is a totally inappropriate decision and a grotesque example of an immoral company whitewashing its appalling practices. If BAE Systems wants to help war veterans, then the best thing it could do is to stop pouring weapons into war zones and fuelling war and conflict.
‘Last month Prince Harry spoke of the need to remove the scourge of landmines.
‘If he wants to promote peace then he should consider how he feels about the involvement of the UK’s biggest arms companies in an event like this.
‘It would very hard to think of a less appropriate partner than BAE Systems – it is akin to having a cigarette company sponsoring Cancer Research or having Dracula sponsor a blood bank.’
A BAE Systems spokesman said: ‘We are proud to be the presenting partner of Invictus UK and of the opportunity it presents to support the competitors who have made significant personal sacrifices in service to our nation.’
An Invictus UK spokesman said: ‘BAE Systems’ long-standing commitment to our veterans and personnel at home and abroad makes them well-placed to support Invictus UK.’
Buckingham Palace declined to comment.