Mishall RehmanTrue Patriot Love and Soldier On joined forces to announce the members of Team Canada for the 2016 Invictus Games. Led by team captain Bruno Guévremont, retired Leading Seaman, the team is comprised of 30 ill and injured veterans and currently serving members of the Canadian Armed Forces.
“This is an exciting time for not only True Patriot Love and our partner, Soldier On, but also for this exceptional group of people who stand here with us today, who represent serving members and veterans from across Canada. True Patriot Love is truly proud and honoured to be a part of this exciting journey,” said Bronwen Evans, CEO at True Patriot Love.
The team is comprised of 25 male and five female members, each competitor acquired either a mental or physical injury during their service.
The Invictus Games, to be held May 6th to 12th at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex in Orlando, Florida, brings together hundreds of ill and injured servicemen from 15 countries around the world to compete in ten competitions including: sitting volleyball, wheelchair basketball, wheelchair rugby, archery, swimming, track and field, cycling, indoor rowing and powerlifting.
Though not yet finalized, Team Canada members are set to take part in almost all the ten competitions, many signed up to take part in sports such as swimming, archery and track and field.
The team sport for Team Canada is sitting volleyball.
“Every single one of these serving members and veterans has proudly represented Canada on the world stage, wearing the maple leaf on their left shoulder. In just a short five months from now, they will represent Canada once again, wearing the maple leaf front and center,” said Greg Lagacé, Deputy in Charge at Solider On.
To-date, Invictus Team Canada has gathered support from companies such as Porter, Adidas, Cara and Hank Latner.
The official Team Canada ‘look and feel’ brand will be released in March.
The games in Florida will be the second annual Invictus Games. Founded by Prince Henry, The inaugural games were held in London, England in September of 2014. During the five-day event over 65,000 people packed into venues across London to cheer on the 413 competitors who poured in from around the world.
The Invictus Games, meaning unconquered, “harness the power of sport to inspire recovery, support rehabilitation, and generate a wider understanding and respect for those who serve their country.”
It is expected that the Games will return to North America again in 2017.
