Invictus Video games for wounded veterans kicks off in Vancouver with star-studded ceremony

Entertainers and dignitaries led by Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, formally kicked off the 2025 Invictus Video games in British Columbia on Saturday in a star-studded opening ceremony.

The kickoff occasion at Vancouver’s BC Place Stadium featured artists Katy Perry, Roxane Bruneau, Noah Kahan, Nelly Furtado and Coldplay’s Chris Martin, with the prince and his spouse Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex, seen clapping and singing alongside to the performances.

However Prince Harry stated in his opening speech that the Video games are supposed to place the main target extra on the opponents — wounded army veterans — who embody braveness, resilience and management in setting an instance for the remainder of the world.

“Your management didn’t finish whenever you stepped off the battlefield or took off the uniform,” he stated, eliciting tears from some visibly moved opponents.

Prince Harry based the Video games in 2014 for wounded, injured or sick service personnel and veterans.

As much as 550 athletes from 23 nations are participating in 11 adaptive sports activities in Whistler and Vancouver, with a number of of the occasions going down in the identical venues that hosted the 2010 Olympic Video games.

4 host nation chiefs entered the stadium to the beat of drums Saturday afternoon, holding raised paddles — a conventional signal of welcome for strangers arriving on the shores of Coast Salish Indigenous communities.

The athletes parade started with Germany, which hosted the video games in 2023 in Duesseldorf, and ended with Group Canada whose members wore matching blue and black flannel shirts.

The stadium was remodeled into what organizers referred to as a “sea of blue,” which represented the Pacific shoreline, with blue banners and flags waving alongside the ground as viewers members held up blue pompoms. A balloon humpback whale and silver dolphins flew over the group.

Dignitaries in attendance included Mary Simon, the Governor Normal of Canada, and B.C. Premier David Eby, who took a second to say the present political local weather between Canada and the US, the place President Donald Trump has threatened tariffs on Canadian merchandise and stated he desires Canada to develop into the 51st state.

Eby addressed Group USA straight, noting that Canadian troopers “have fought and died and cried and celebrated beside Individuals for generations,” and he stated that Canadians will all the time be there for the U.S.

“And you already know what, if we ever want you, and it got here right down to it, I do know you would be there in a second. God bless USA. God bless Canada,” Eby instructed the group.

This 12 months is the primary time the Video games will function winter sports activities, together with the skeleton, snowboarding occasions and wheelchair curling, alongside indoor rowing, sitting volleyball, swimming, wheelchair rugby and wheelchair basketball occasions because it has beforehand.

Occasion producer Patrick Roberge stated that the 4 First Nations co-hosting the Video games characterize the “shared therapeutic journey of Indigenous Peoples in Canada.”

Gabrille Hack was among the many attendees who filed into BC Place forward of the opening ceremony. She stated her mom was volunteering on the occasion and acquired her tickets.

“Seeing folks of their army outfits and every little thing — I believe it is simply such a novel ambiance,” Hack stated in an interview earlier than the ceremony, including that watching the music artists dwell was one other main draw.

That sentiment was shared by fellow ceremony-goer Gina Behnke. The Germany-native stated Kahan was the principle motive she wished to attend.

“Noah Kahan is my favorite artist and tickets for his live shows are actually costly, so this was an opportunity to see him, even when it is only for one music,” Behnke stated exterior the stadium.

However Kahan carried out two of his hits for the group, together with “Northern Perspective” and “Stick Season.”

Addressing the athletes, Kahan referred to as them inspiring.

“It is a kind of issues we’ll keep in mind without end,” he stated. “We’ll keep in mind the bravery on this room. The openness along with your struggles conjures up us all.”

Canadian singer-songwriter Nelly Furtado, who was the primary headliner to take the stage, carried out a medley of “Spirit Indestructible,” “Promiscuous,” “I am Like a Chicken,” “Flip Off the Gentle” and “Powerless.” She was joined by friends music producer Mattmac and dance group In poor health Skills.

Francophone singer Roxane Bruneau carried out songs “J’pas stressée” and “À ma manière,” performing alongside the 80-person Invictus Video games Dance Corp.

Chris Martin of Coldplay carried out the Invictus Anthem dwell for the primary time. The music, which he penned for the primary Video games in London in 2014, has fashioned the premise of medal ceremonies for all Invictus Video games. He accomplished his set by enjoying Coldplay hits “Increased Energy” and “Viva La Vida.”

As the ultimate refrain of “Viva La Vida” rang out, the video panned to the singing crowd, pausing briefly on Prince Harry and his spouse Meghan, who might be seen participating.

American pop star Katy Perry closed the present with a medley of “Roar,” “Darkish Horse,” “A part of Me,” “Lifetimes” and “Firework” to a rapturous crowd.

Grace Pachmann, a longtime fan of the singer, stated seeing her dwell was “a dream come true” and your complete occasion was “actually inspiring.”

“It was very heartwarming (and) very emotional. It was actually cool to see so many alternative tales and so many individuals coming collectively from bunch of various nations, and I actually loved it.”

This 12 months marks the seventh Video games and the second time they’ve been held in Canada. Toronto beforehand acted as host in 2017.

Prince Harry and Meghan are anticipated to be in attendance all through the Video games.

Final 12 months, the pair attended coaching camp in B.C., the place the prince tried out sit-skiing and skeleton in Whistler earlier than heading to Vancouver to attempt wheelchair curling alongside Canadian singer Michael Bublé.

After the ceremony ended, Prince Harry headed down the road to Rogers Area, the place he carried out the ceremonial puck drop earlier than the Vancouver Canucks’ sport in opposition to the Toronto Maple Leafs.

The Video games run till Feb. 16, and can conclude with a closing ceremony at Vancouver’s Rogers Area that can function artists together with nation singer Jelly Roll and Canadian rock band Barenaked Women.