Last year on Sept. 10, the opening ceremonies for Prince Harry's inaugural Invictus Games were taking place. The games, which got their name from William Ernest Henley's poem about overcoming adversity, were the first of their kind. The prince, who has also served in the military, invited veterans from countries around the world to participate in a four-day sporting competition. According to the event's website, over 400 disabled athletes from 13 countries traveled to London to prove their unconquered spirit.
Many of the veterans who participated in the games had positive things to say.
"Being in the military is like being a professional athlete," Sgt. Major (Retired) Christopher Self told People magazine. "Through competitions like the Warrior Games or Invictus, it gives a chance to show, 'Yes, I've been injured, but I'm still able to do these things physically and compete on a level playing field.'"
Self and the other competitors showed their skills in events including swimming, volleyball and weightlifting. A year later, the impact of Prince Harry's games is still strong with many of its competitors and spectators. In fact, the 2014 games were so successful that the prince announced that the games would return for a second event in 2016. The 2016 Invictus Games are scheduled for May 8-12 in Orlando, Florida.