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 focus extra on the rivals — wounded navy veterans — who embody braveness, resilience and management in setting an instance for the remainder of the world.

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

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 Workforce Canada whose members wore matching blue and black flannel shirts.

The stadium was remodeled into what organizers known 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 Basic of Canada, and B.C. Premier David Eby, who took a second to say the present political local weather between Canada and the USA, the place President Donald Trump has threatened tariffs on Canadian merchandise and stated he needs Canada to develop into the 51st state.

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

“And what, if we ever want you, and it got here all the way down to it, I do know you would be there in a second. God bless USA. God bless Canada,” Eby informed 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 navy outfits and every little thing — I feel it is simply such a novel ambiance,” Hack stated in an interview earlier than the ceremony, including that watching the music artists stay was one other main draw.

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

“Noah Kahan is my favorite artist and tickets for his concert events are actually costly, so this was an opportunity to see him, even when it is only for one tune,” 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 known as them inspiring.

“It is a kind of issues we’ll keep in mind eternally,” 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 Fowl,” “Flip Off the Gentle” and “Powerless.” She was joined by company music producer Mattmac and dance group Ailing 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 stay for the primary time. The tune, which he penned for the primary Video games in London in 2014, has fashioned the idea of medal ceremonies for all Invictus Video games. He accomplished his set by taking part in Coldplay hits “Larger 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 may very well 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 stay was “a dream come true” and all the occasion was “actually inspiring.”

“It was very heartwarming (and) very emotional. It was actually cool to see so many various tales and so many individuals coming collectively from bunch of various international locations, 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 strive wheelchair curling alongside Canadian singer Michael Bublé.

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

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