TORONTO — Prince Harry launched the official countdown to the 2017 Invictus Games on Monday, an Olympic-style sporting event meant to honour the wounded, injured and sick troops.
The 31-year-old royal said the Toronto games will be the biggest yet, with 600 military participants from 16 nations competing in 12 sports.
"This city will become the focal point for hundreds of men and women who use the pull of Invictus glory to motivate their recovery from physical and mental injuries," Harry told a gathering of servicemen and dignitaries at Toronto's Fairmont Royal York Hotel.
"And Toronto will take on responsibility for a competition that has the power to inspire millions of people around the world and to remind us all of the amazing contribution that our servicemen, women and veterans make."
Harry said the desire to found the games took root in 2008 while he was serving as an officer in Afghanistan.
He was forced to leave the front lines after his presence in the war-torn region was leaked to the media, potentially endangering the soldiers serving alongside him, he said.
As he was flying home, burdened by a sense of guilt for abandoning his fellow troops, Harry said he had an experience that reminded him that battles were not always confined to the war zone.
"Once in the air, I stuck my head through the curtain to see three British soldiers, really young lads, younger than me at the time, laid out on stretchers in induced comas. All three wrapped in plastic, missing limbs, with tubes coming out of them everywhere," he said.
"This visceral image was something I'd never prepared myself for and only heard of. It struck me that this flight was just one of many carrying home men and women whose lives would be changed forever."
Harry said sport is a valuable outlet for soldiers trying to recover from their injuries. Smaller competitions playing out in front of meagre audiences inspired him to create a global platform for troops to showcase their athletic accomplishments, and for spectators to be inspired by their achievements, he said.
Harry was joined at the event by a number of dignitaries including Ontario Premier Kathleen Wynne and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.
Showing a picture of his grandfather who served during the Second World War, Trudeau said Canada was committed to honouring soldiers during their time on and off the battlefield.
"These individuals, as the name Invictus suggests, are unconquerable," he said. "And this event shines a spotlight on their unwavering strength of character."
Prince Harry and Trudeau will later attend a sledge hockey exhibition game at Ryerson University's Mattamy Athletic Centre.
The prince will also have a private afternoon meeting with Ontario Lt.-Gov. Elizabeth Dowdeswell.
The Invictus Games were first held in London in 2014 and this year's event is set to take place May 8-12 in Orlando, Fla.
The Toronto games, which will take place between Sept. 26-30, will be the first to feature a national torch relay, igniting the Invictus spirit across all 32 Canadian military bases and neighbouring communities.
The games will help commemorate Canada's 150th anniversary as well as significant military milestones such as the battle of Vimy Ridge and the battle of Dieppe.
5 THINGS TO KNOW ABOUT THE INVICTUS GAMES
Toronto will host the third Invictus Games next year. Here are five things to know about the games, which will take place from Sept. 26 to 30.
HISTORY: The international sporting event for wounded, injured and sick service personnel was first held in 2014 in London. After attending the Warrior Games in Colorado in 2013, Prince Harry was inspired to bring the event to an international audience, believing the power of sport could help participants physically, psychologically and socially. The word Invictus means "unconquered."
EVENTS: The 2017 games will feature archery, indoor rowing, powerlifting, road cycling, sitting volleyball, swimming, track and field, wheelchair basketball and wheelchair rugby, as well as two new sports: golf and sledge hockey.
MARKING MILESTONES: The Toronto games will help commemorate Canada's 150th birthday as well as the 100th anniversary of the Battle of Vimy Ridge and the 75th anniversary of the Battle of Dieppe.
RECORD NUMBERS: Toronto will host the largest Invictus Games to date with more than 600 military competitors from 16 countries.
TRASH TALK: The upcoming games in Orlando, Fla., have sparked some good-hearted ribbing between Prince Harry and the Obamas.
Last week, the 31-year-old royal released a video featuring him and the Queen. As he's looking at an Invictus brochure with his grandmother, a video phone message from Michelle Obama arrives. It shows the U.S. first lady and the president accepting Harry's challenge, with a man in uniform behind them saying "Boom!'' and pretending to drop the mic. The bemused Queen then says, "Oh really? Please.''
