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By SOPHIE CARLIN and PAUL THOMPSON
Published: 20:07 GMT, 8 February 2025 | Updated: 21:46 GMT, 8 February 2025
The 2025 Invictus Games within the cities of Vancouver and Whistler, Canada, start in the present day, with a gap ceremony of two-and-a-half hours, beginning at 9pm GMT.Â
The nine-day sporting occasion – created by Prince Harry in 2014 for wounded, injured and sick servicemen and ladies –Â will see greater than 500 rivals from 23 international locations come collectively.Â
From in the present day till February 16, athletes will compete within the video games’ core sports activities – indoor rowing, sitting volleyball, swimming, wheelchair rugby and wheelchair basketball.Â
But this 12 months, the Games will even function new winter sports activities: Alpine snowboarding and snowboard, Nordic snowboarding and biathlon, skeleton – a type of sledding – and wheelchair curling.Â
Coldplay’s Chris Martin, Nelly Furtado and Katy Perry are all resulting from carry out on the opening ceremony tonight in entrance of a sell-out crowd of 40,000 spectators.Â
And the Duke and Duchess of Sussex are additionally resulting from make an look collectively on the occasion. Â
Follow alongside for reside updates on the opening ceremony.Â
Live updates underÂ
Canada’s governor basic offers an impassioned opening handle
Her Excellency the Right Honourable Mary Simon gave a speech to open the ceremony. She is Canada’s first Indigenous governor basic.
Meghan whips out the pompoms
The Duchess of Sussex acquired into the festive spirit of the Games, whipping out blue pompoms to point out her assist for the servicemen and ladies coming into the stadium.
Parade of nationwide groups involves a detailed
The nationwide groups entered the stadium to a vigorous viewers response in Vancouver.
UK workforce enters the stadium to standing ovation from the Sussexes
As the UK workforce’s entrance was introduced an enormous display within the stadium lower to a shot of Harry and Meghan smiling and waving from the stands.
Harry wore a darkish swimsuit whereas Meghan was wrapped up in opposition to the chilly in a white coat.
They sat in entrance of one of many leaders of the indigenous individuals on whose land the video games are being held in Vancouver and Whistler.
Meghan whipped out her cellphone to file the boisterous environment within the stadium.
Prince exhibits off his dance strikes forward of the Invictus Games
Prince Harry confirmed off his expertise on the dancefloor as he and Meghan Markle met with rivals forward of this 12 months’s Invictus Games.
The Duke of Sussex confirmed off his dancing expertise as he met members of the Canadian workforce participating on this 12 months’s sporting occasion.
He additionally hugged a feminine competitor as he and Meghan had a breakfast assembly forward of the opening ceremony.
The couple had been warmly greeted by the Canadian workforce with Meghan posting video of the encounter to her Instagram story – full with Harry seemingly making an attempt to do the ‘twist’.
Our reporter has extra right here:
Harry and Meghan noticed watching on from the viewers
National groups arrive to cheers from the stadium
The opening ceremony started with a parade of countries participating within the week lengthy occasion.
Germany, who hosted the 2023 video games in Dusseldorf had been first to enter the BC Place enviornment.
Two rivals from Team Afghan got an enormous cheer, however the loudest noise was reserved for the host nation Canada.
Giant inflatables of a whale and dolphin hovered above the navy veterans from the ceiling of the stadium with the ocean creatures signifying Vancouver’s hyperlinks to the Pacific Ocean.
Star-studded opening ceremony line-up personally chosen by Harry
Coldplay frontman Chris Martin will be a part of the likes of Katy Perry and Nelly Furtado to carry out at tonight’s Invictus Games opening ceremony.
They can be joined by rising American popstar Noah Kahan and Canadian singer-songwriter Rozane Bruneau.
And it seems Prince Harry selected them personally, with Robyn McVicker, chief working officer of the Invictus Games, telling PEOPLE journal he had ‘enter’ within the headlining acts.
What are the Invictus Games and when had been they arrange?
When getting back from deployment in Afghanistan, Prince Harry watched the coffin of a Danish soldier be repatriated alongside three injured British troopers. It made an actual influence on him. He then visited the Warrior Games in 2013, an American competitors which had wounded servicemen and ladies compete in tailored sport as a part of their highway to restoration. As a outcome, he was impressed to create his personal worldwide model of the event – the Invictus Games. The first one was held on the Copperbox Arena, in London’s Olympic Park, in 2014.
Since then, the competitors has been held biennially – aside from a hiatus resulting from Covid in 2020 – in Florida, Sydney, the Hague and Dusseldorf. With this 12 months’s competitors in Vancouver and Whistler, the Games has now been hosted in Canada twice – the third version of the event was held in Toronto in 2017.
Meghan posts to Instagram story as pair meet sport stars
Exclusive:Prince Harry and Meghan Markle get set for a heat welcome as they arrive for the Invictus Games
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle is likely to be getting the chilly shoulder in California, however they will anticipate a a lot hotter welcome in Canada upon arriving for the Invictus Games.
Despite the freezing circumstances they’re prone to be welcomed by locals whose enthusiasm for the couple is in stark distinction to these throughout the border within the US.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s recognition has taken a nosedive with the US media turning in opposition to them. Residents within the tremendous wealthy enclave of Montecito the place they reside in a £10m mansion have additionally reportedly been lower than enthralled by their presence.
Here is our unique story with extra:
Exclusive:Harry and Meghan arrived at their £5,000-a-night lodge by personal jet
Prince Harry was all smiles as he arrived at his five-star lodge for the beginning of the Invictus Games final night time.
He grinned broadly from the again seat together with his spouse Meghan, who was casually wearing a blue high and brown coat, as they arrived on the extremely luxurious Fairmont Pacific Rim lodge.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex can be having fun with ‘rock star’ standing throughout their keep in Vancouver after reserving a £5,000 an evening suite that comes with its personal personal elevator and rooftop patio.
Here is our unique story for extra:
Meghan made impromptu speech at personal Invictus Games occasion yesterday
Meghan Markle gave an impromptu speech at a non-public Invictus Games occasion to say how she feels ‘at dwelling’ in Canada and praised her husband for his dedication to the sporting occasion for disabled navy veterans.
After giving Harry a intimate kiss on stage she took the microphone to speak concerning the significance of the occasion – and the way their youngsters in California had been totally conscious of what the sport imply to the household.
She instructed an viewers of navy veterans and their households how a lot the Games meant to her husband saying they had been his ‘household’.
Here is our story with extra:
Build-up to opening ceremony of Invictus Games 2025 begins
Hello and welcome to MailOnline’s reside protection of the opening ceremony of the Invictus Games 2025, which is because of begin at 9pm GMT.
Coldplay’s Chris Martin, Nelly Furtado and Katy Perry are all set to carry out on the BC Place stadium in Vancouver tonight in entrance of a sell-out crowd of 40,000 spectators.
And the Duke and Duchess of Sussex are additionally resulting from make an look collectively on the occasion.
Stick with us as we convey you the newest updates.
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Invictus Games reside updates:Â Prince Harry opens competitors as locals make their emotions recognized on Meghan Markle’s arrival in CanadaÂ
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