Fact Sheet – U.S. to host the Invictus Games Orlando 2016
World’s largest international adaptive sporting event for wounded, ill and injured service members will host 500 athletes from 15 nations in Orlando, Florida from May 8 – 12
WASHINGTON, DC: The United States will host the 2016 Invictus Games at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex at Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida from May 8-12. The Invictus Games are the only international adaptive sporting event for injured active duty and veteran service members. The mission of the Invictus Games is to honor the men and women who have come face-to-face with the reality of sacrificing for their country, using the power of rehabilitative sports to help them on their journey to recovery.
Inspired by his 2013 United States visit to the Warrior Games, an adaptive sports competition for wounded, ill, and injured Service members, Prince Harry was driven to bring a similar event to the international stage in London. The inaugural 2014 Invictus Games were held in the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park at the Lee Valley Velo Park, the London Aquatics Center, Here West, the Copper Box Arena and the Lee Valley Aquatics Centre from 10th to 14th of September, 2014. Dr. Jill Biden led a US Presidential Delegation to the inaugural games as part of the Joining Forces Initiative. During the five day event, crowds of over 65,000 packed multiple venues in London to cheer on the 413 competing athletes, while millions more tuned in via television to witness the achievements of the participants.
Following the games, when asked what sport meant to him, Army veteran and silver medalist in the 2014 London Game’s Indoor Rowing event Michael Kacer said that “Sport helped me realize what life is about. It truly reopened my eyes and gave me a new sense of confidence when I didn’t have any. I was lost due to the Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder and was falling into alcoholism. Between sports and my family, they really helped to save my life.” Another competitor stated that “Up until my awareness of the Invictus Games, all I had been doing was living in memories. In my mind my life has been over and I was just waiting to be done because I’m not capable of doing or living like I used to. I’m starting to think however, that my game has just begun.”
In November 2014, The Invictus Games Organizing Committee opened a bidding process for interested parties from the 13 nations who participated in the 2014 Games to bring the Invictus Games to their nation. Inspired by his attendance at the Invictus Games 2014, Ken Fisher founded Military Adaptive Sports, Inc. (MASI), a non-for-profit organization with the purpose of continuing the Fisher Family Legacy of supporting Service members and their families on an international stage by bringing the Invictus Games to the United States in 2016. In July of 2015, Orlando, Florida was awarded the honor of hosting the 2016 Games, with the Invictus Games Foundation citing the city’s outstanding sporting facilities and tourist infrastructure as why it was the ideal host for both competitors and spectators. Prince Harry’s personal leadership has been instrumental in ensuring this vision for the Games continue past the London games.
“Sport and exercise are important to the health and healing of our wounded military heroes,” said Ken Fisher. “We are honored the Invictus Games is coming to the United States and grateful to have a world class facility and host in Walt Disney World Resort and the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex. The competitors, their families and caregivers are all inspirations and each of their stories is a testament to courage, love and perseverance.”
The 2016 Games will bring together more than 500 competitors from 15 participating nations and feature 10 competitive events: sitting volleyball, wheelchair basketball, wheelchair rugby, wheelchair tennis, archery, swimming, track and field, cycling, indoor rowing and powerlifting. The countries returning to participate in the 2016 games are: Afghanistan, Australia, Canada, Denmark, Estonia, France, Georgia, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, New Zealand, United Kingdom, and the United States of America. Making their Invictus Games debut in Orlando will be teams from Iraq and Jordan. The 230-acre ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex is a world-class venue and multi-sport facility that has already successfully hosted more than 70 different sporting events with competitors from more 70 different countries.
With the Invictus Games Orlando 2016, the legacy of the Invictus Games will continue to build as our wounded men and women will once again be given the opportunity to demonstrate to the world the Invictus Spirit: the undefeatable drive to overcome.
To learn more about the Invictus Games, visit: www.invictusgames2016.org
Follow them on Twitter and Instagram at @InvictusOrlando
About Military Adaptive Sports, Inc.
Military Adaptive Sports, Inc. (MASI) is a non-profit organization created for the purpose of honoring and supporting Service members and their families on an international stage by hosting the Invictus Games in the United States in 2016.
MASI will:
- Ensure the Invictus Games harnesses the power of sport to inspire recovery, rehabilitation and generate a wider understanding and respect for those who serve their countries and their families.
- Provide a vehicle for wounded, ill, and injured Service members – both active duty and veteran – to continue achieving their physical, emotional, mental and spiritual goals.
- Showcase the unconquerable spirit of the world’s wounded, ill, and injured Service members on an international platform to inspire others to be: Invictus.
About the Invictus Games
The Invictus Games were created by His Royal Highness Prince Henry of Wales after a 2013 visit to the US-based Warrior Games – a sporting competition for wounded, ill, and injured Service members – where he witnessed the important role sports played in improving the lives of service members and their families.
“Invictus” means “unconquered” and embodies the fighting spirit of the wounded, ill, and injured Service members and the incredible will they have in order to overcome.
CONTACT:
Nathan Naylor
FleishmanHillard
Tel:202-246-5302
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