HARRY GAMES HEAD FOR OZ
PRINCE Harry has announced that Sydney will host the 2018 Invictus Games – and was given the seal of approval by pop princess Kylie Minogue. In a video message Harry named the New South Wales metropolis as the next venue for his Paralympicstyle sporting spectacle that has already been staged in London and Orlando and is scheduled for Toronto next year.
The announcement comes to a comic end when, surrounded by members of the Australian military, Harry’s smartphone rings to the sound of the Minogue hit I Should Be So Lucky and he announces to cheers that the caller is Kylie.
He says: “Hi Kylie, good timing, the 2018 Invictus Games is coming to Sydney, can I guarantee the Aussies are going to bring it?”
In her own video message viewed on the phone she replies: “Hey Prince Harry. Listen,en, we’re stoked the Invictus Games is coming to Sydney but you don’t need to tell the Aussies to bring it – it’s guaranteed,anteed, no worries.”
The prince has been n the driving force behind the Invictus Games for injured, wounded and sick servicemen and women men and veterans, and stagedaged the inaugural event in n London to great accclaim in 2014. He hadd further success with h the Orlando Games s earlier this year. In Australia more than 500 competitors from 17 nations will compete in 11 adaptive sports across Greater Sydney, including Sydney Olympic Park and on and around the city’s harbour. The Prince, patron of the Invictus Games Foundation, which oversees the delivery of the tournament, said in the message: “The Invictus Games has shown us what can be achieved when wounded, injured and sick servicemen and women rediscover their fighting spirit through sport. “In London and again Orlando we came away moved by the tales of courage that got each competitor through their rehabilitation to the start line of their chosen sport. “Tens of thousands of people packed stadiums a and millions more watched a at home. We were all inspired.inspire “We have ra raised the bar higher with each successive games and I know that Toron Toronto are planning an incredible event whe when they host the GamesGam in Septemb tember. And I am happy to s say the Invict tus Games j journey won’t end there.” He went to explain why Sydney had won the right to host the Games.
“We had three key criteria. First, it had to be an iconic city – somewhere known the world over.
“Second it needed to be a city with a proud military heritage, which would welcome competitors from all over the world with open arms.
“And, finally, we wanted to go somewhere where they are absolute- ly sports mad and would really get behind our competitors.
“It was an easy decision really – the 2018 Invictus Games are coming to Sydney.”
The video, filmed at the Tourism Australia offices in Australia House, London, features Invictus Games Sydney 2018 ambassador and Wallabies captain Stephen Moore as well as members of the Australian De-