Prince Harry vows Invictus Games will become regular event

 
Important event: Prince Harry explains the Invictus Games on Radio 2 (Picture: Getty)

Prince Harry today vowed that his Invictus Games were “definitely going to be a regular event”.

Appearing on Chris Evans’s breakfast show on BBC Radio 2, he said: “We’re fully prepared to do it for as long as there’s nations that want to keep it or need to keep it going.

“We’re still trying to work out whether we do it next year or the year after and whether it’s going to be within the UK or whether it’s going to be abroad.

“But the legacy has already started and if we can use it as a stepping stone for some of these individuals to move onto the Paralympics, great.

“If some of them want to use it as a one-off to get themselves back on the road and then as a stepping stone to employment, then just as good. We will use the Invictus Games for as long as it’s needed.”

Royal Marines JJ Chalmers and Luke Darlington, who were injured serving in Afghanistan and hope to compete in the Games, joined Prince Harry for the interview to discuss the event coming to London’s Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park from September 10-14.

The Prince passionately explained why the Invictus Games presented by Jaguar Land Rover is such an important event. He said: “The point of them is to use the power of sport to help these guys through rehabilitation.

“And it’s basically a pathway to allow the wounded, injured and sick communities within the UK — and across the board as well because we’ve got 14 nations coming to it — a pathway back into employment.

“A lot of these individuals, girls and guys, that have been injured get into that very, sort of, negative state of mind and actually it’s a lot easier to stay out of the way of everybody else because, you know, you get anxiety and you’re trying to rebuild your life.

"These guys are a credit to the country so to give them a chance to come out and inspire others around them, to show how they’ve come from that to competing in amongst 430 other competitors in the Invictus Games in London in front of 55,000 people is absolutely incredible.”

He urged the UK public to buy tickets and support not only the British Armed Forces team but also the 300 other participants from 13 other nations.

Chalmers joked: “Otherwise we’ll send the boys around,” and Darlington added: “By the way, we’re talking about the Marines.”

Evans said: “You’ve been warned.”

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