The Duke and Duchess of Sussex at the Invictus Games 2023

[MrsMaxDeWinter]

Most of the Invictus threads seem to be filling up, or focused on fairly parochial issues, so I thought, now that Meghan is in Dusseldorf, I would lead us off with a general new thread about Harry and Meghan at Invictus 2023.

Some initial thoughts from me.

The UK tabloid narrative about how much Harry and Meghan are loathed globally is blown apart by the warm and rousing welcome they both received, both separately and together. So the UK tabloids have to dig deep to write eye-rollingly silly stories about Harry being "humiliated" because he did not score a goal during a fun, light-hearted TV appearance to promote the Games.

Invictus clearly means everything to Harry, and it is lovely to see Meghan supporting him, and to remember that it was at Invictus in Toronto that they first went public. The event must have such lovely memories for them both.

Favourite picture: Meghan with Glory Essien, the Nigerian athlete.

The Nigerians have really lit up the tournament. A Kenyan senator who met Harry last week posted on X that she would work on Kenya to be the next African team.

After everything in the last year, it's so lovely to see that Invictus is getting bigger, that Harry is as committed as he has always been to the Games he started, and that Meghan is there to support the veterans, and her husband.

Please don't @ me again Pilates.

😂you are funny

What a brilliant idea. I must tell my DD about it... she has run Marathons in quite a few different countries. Only trouble is.. she's stony broke at the moment 😂 (doing up a house, so maybe I better not tell her!)

Trouble at t'mill?

https://nybreaking.com/prince-harrys-invictus-games-is-thrown-into-chaos-as-two-top-chiefs-are-sacked-as-insiders-warn-staff-morale-is-at-an-all-time-low-and-claim-event-is-over-budget-despite-30m-government-grant/

Yes that article is weeks old and it has been talked about on MN.

I’ve posted on here before about this, how much the Australian Defence Force and Veterans Affairs department, & the Invictus Games are now working together - this is worth a quick read. There’s more but it’s quite dense if memory serves

https://www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_Business/Committees/Senate/Foreign_Affairs_Defence_and_Trade/Adaptivesportprograms/Report/Section?id=committees%2Freportsen%2F025016%2F80618

Excerpt:

Background1.19

The following is a brief introduction to the establishment of the Invictus Games which is referred to in clause (g) of the inquiry’s terms of reference.

1.20
The Invictus Games represent one part of efforts to assist Australian veterans who are suffering injury or illness due to service and participate in competitive sports. A historical background on adaptive sport is provided in chapter two. The following provides a brief overview of the Invictus Games.
**
Invictus Games and the launch of Invictus Australia1.21

The Invictus Games website recounts that in 2013, on a trip to the Warrior Games in the US (United States), The Duke of Sussex, Prince Harry, saw first-hand how sport can physically, mentally, and socially help those suffering from injuries and illness.10 First held in 2010, the Warrior Games are an annual event run by the US Department of Defense with an aim to celebrate the resilience and dedication of wounded, ill, and injured active duty and veteran US military service members.11

1.22
The visit inspired the Duke to launch the Invictus Games in London in 2014, featuring teams from 13 nations including Australia. The Games featured both injured active and veteran service members and have subsequently been held in 2016, 2017, 2018 and 2022. According to the Invictus Games Foundation:
**
The word ‘invictus’ [comes from the Latin] meaning ‘unconquered’. It embodies the fighting spirit of wounded, injured and sick service personnel and personifies what these tenacious men and women can achieve post injury. The Games harness the power of sport to inspire recovery, support rehabilitation and generate a wider understanding and respect for those who serve their country.12
1.23

This year, the 2023 Invictus Games will feature athletes from 20 nations and are scheduled to take place in Dusseldorf, Germany in September 2023.13
**
Invictus Australia1.24

Australian teams have taken part in all Invictus Games to date. After hosting the 2018 Invictus Games in Sydney, Invictus Australia commenced operations initially as Veteran Sport Australia. Following the success of the 2018 games, the Invictus Games Foundation agreed to provide Australia with the rights to become the first nation to establish an Invictus program outside the Invictus Games. On 28 October 2021, Invictus Australia was launched.

1.25
Currently, Invictus Australia is the official partner of the ADF for the delivery of Australian teams to the Invictus Games, Warrior Games and the ADF Adaptive Sport Program (ADFASP), more information on the ADFASP can be found in chapter three.14

Long post sorry, but I’ve a relative that’s a Vietnam War Veteran - very sports mad. He used sport very early as a way to cope after he came home. He was actually a world level amateur athlete before he went to war. . Also suffered ptsd but it wasn’t called that back then. He first told me about IG. I Didnt realize at the time Harry was heading it up.

It’s that some people want there to be trouble with anything Harry and or Meghan do that I find so distasteful. They want trouble for them so badly that, in my opinion, from all I’ve read on here, they would happily see the IG fail.

I agree @ALittleTeawithmilk . How sad is that. Especially when it has helped so many. I've seen the glee on previous threads.

I am no fan of the RF yet I have applauded from the rooftops The Princes trust. I wouldn't want it to fail because it's Charles. I have oft quoted what it did for a friend of mine. Charles should be proud at what he did there. And if for instance Kate's Early Years gets itself a track record and proves itself, I will feel the same.
Let's not knock IG just because it's Harry. That's just mean spirited and unpleasant

I agree

Isn't it relevant though when people in IG are talking about the high costs to IG of the involvement of H and M specifically security and clothing? Or are we only allowed to mention one side of something?

That has never stopped people from talking about things from years ago never mind weeks ago though? I haven't seen talk about this on here especially with reference to the Sussex costs. It's nothing to do with being mean spirited ( easy accusation , same same ) it is very relevant and no I would not like to see the IG fail but it does seem that it is being touted that M and H are costing too much.

I have READ THE THREAD

I have been contributing to it throughout!!!!

I didn't need or even want anything explaining.

I wanted to see if interest in the Foundation had endured beyond the Harry spotlight

I come at this from a military perspective, hoping that someone, anyone would have known without needing to check what the IG Foundation is up to right now.

But I've been rounded on for asking a question, and then pointing out that no-one knew the answer. Which wasn't quite what I expected (as I'd thought at least some people here would know, from a genuine/enduring interest in the work of the Foundation, rather than just dipping in an out when there are Harry headlines) and I was mildly curious to see how much. I really hadn't expected there to be none at all

I had also thought it was also an opportunity to praise the Foundation's work.

But I've been rounded on for asking a question No @mpsw its the way you asked. I don't believe you were genuinely asking questions at all, you were aggressive and instantly assumed nobody would know anything. Why would anyone engage with you in good faith when you were so rude about it? Thats not a way to start a nice conversation. The post was about The Games, others about the series, so thats why there was focus on those events. If you'd like to talk about their other work, the way you go about it, is not to demand people tell you what they know 'without googling'. Come and share what you know, start a friendly discussion. There was nothing friendly about the way you entered the discussion. It was deliberately provocative.

'Being touted'.... yes! Feel free to comment on that article if you so wish. I can only see security costs being mentioned in the 'costing too much' bit. I imagine you would like them to step away from Invictus, am I right?

Those that have left the Organisation spoke very warmly about its future.

The objective facts in that article are that 2 senior members of the Invictus team have left and that it has been a surprise to many.

The speculative aspects of that article are that a Games volunteer - not a board member or a day to foundation employee- would have enough knowledge about the day to day workings of the corporate entity and even know of the workings of the financial structure of the Games Foundation to know what the spend has been and whether there has been an overspend.

The point of this was to talk about the grant given for the games and re-introduce the idea of the Sussexes being profligate spenders at the expense of the Foundation. As evidenced by the poster you’re responding to bringing up clothing (which was not mentioned at all in the article).

Regardless - I think they seem to be ticking away nicely. Here’s to Vancouver.

@Roussette as with any charitable event it needs to be established that monies are not going in the wrong direction as has been suggested so I imagine this will be looked at.

@skullbabe this is the problem though isn't it? Speculative aspects ? newspaper articles - I mean my goodness even a book could be written based on speculation and no direct involvement.

I am sure it will. Suggested... yes. There's lots suggested continually about Harry & Meghan isn't there...

As evidenced by the poster you’re responding to bringing up clothing (which was not mentioned at all in the article)

Exactly. Clothing is just a cheap pot shot that is wheeled out continually about Meghan.

My apologies to those who read my post as rude.

It was of course intended to be one of those little good-natured tongue in cheek jokey posts (which aren't unusual on MN) because I had expected a load of "yes of course!" and maybe even "wasn't it fantastic to see the local participants" and similar

And I stand of course very firmly corrected in my assumption that interest in one activity of the Invictus Games Foundation might have led to an interest in the whole of its work.

(And it really wasn't a demanding question! Anyone who subscribes to IG on any of the SM platforms would have known straight away as that was their newest release, going round that morning)

Let's be honest most of this stuff is always hinted at, suggested, close sources, sources close to as in the current Endgame book. That's the way it is and NONE of us know the real story.

Is there a cut off point for discussing subjects ?

No, who's said that?

Someone linked it like it was a new story... I just pointed out it had been discussed...

Is there a rule then that something is only allowed to be discussed once? I don't think so or this whole board would be

No one has said that?