Invictus Games Stories

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#1 – Dutch team is preparing for the Invictus Games The Hague 2020

#1 – Dutch team is preparing for the Invictus Games The Hague 2020

They can read and write together now. Team captain Wouter Bakker and team manager Nils Berghout are preparing to participate in the Invictus Games with the 32-person Dutch team. "We will pay attention to the others, it will be very exciting for some of us."
2# – Canadian team is looking forward to the Invictus Games The Hague 2020

2# – Canadian team is looking forward to the Invictus Games The Hague 2020

Leander Volz has created a place in his backyard where he can practice his archery skills. And if weather permits, the daily commute of 44 kilometres to and 44 kilometres from the barracks, is travelled by the Canadian ‘just’ on the bike. To get better in wheelchair rugby, he has also joined the local volleyball club. In other words, Volz is looking forward to the Invictus Games in the Netherlands, “I'm ready.”
#3 – Games gives Italian team new energy and power

#3 – Games gives Italian team new energy and power

For Giuseppe Erriquez, lieutenant colonel in the Italian army, participation in the Invictus Games literally gives "new energy, new power. It will be a very inspiring journey for the entire Italian team. We are curious about the other participants, would like to meet people from other countries, and of course also travel with our Friends & Family. Because we also believe that participating in the Invictus Games will make us all stronger."
#4 – Team Denmark is going to do their utmost

#4 – Team Denmark is going to do their utmost

“The goal? Become as good as possible. Full of enthusiasm. We don't have to win, as long as we do our best.” The 22 men and 2 women who Denmark will be sending to The Netherlands in the spring, will do their utmost. “We are all looking forward to it.”
#5 – Understanding for the injured in Jordan thanks to participation in Invictus Games

#5 – Understanding for the injured in Jordan thanks to participation in Invictus Games

She has a higher purpose. Participation in the Invictus Games does not only bring great benefits to the Jordanian military, it also considerably increases the understanding of disabled people in the Arab world. Rula Beik Amro: "The Invictus Games have great meaning."
#6 – Invictus Games team New Zealand is really one team

#6 – Invictus Games team New Zealand is really one team

Buffy Little felt that it was time to raise her hand. She has gone through a lot in her years as a nurse in the New Zealand army. In addition to being deployed to conflict areas such as Iraq, Buffy Little was also involved in first aid missions after the terrible earthquakes in Christchurch. And recently she helped with the evacuation and relief of victims of the volcano eruption on White Island. "That was a bizarre situation."
#7 – First female team captain of team UK looks forward to the Invictus Games

#7 – First female team captain of team UK looks forward to the Invictus Games

She still has a lot of homework to do. Rachel Williamson is team captain of the UK team for the Invictus Games. With 65 participants, including 59 newcomers, Rachel still has to learn a lot of new faces and names. “From what I understand, they will forgive me if I am wrong the first time.”
#8 – Team Estonia can’t wait for the Invictus Games The Hague

#8 – Team Estonia can’t wait for the Invictus Games The Hague

Janno Lepik is team captain of the Estonian delegation for the Invictus Games. “I am a good example of how sports, but especially the event, has influenced me in a positive way. The first time, in Toronto, I was in fact nothing more than an injured veteran. I had prepared myself well for Sydney, I really participated. And now there are even plans for me to participate in the Paralympic Games.” That shows what kind of development you can go through in a few years.
#9 – Romanian team is happy that the Invictus Games are possible

#9 – Romanian team is happy that the Invictus Games are possible

Together with his teammates from the Romanian delegation for the Invictus Games, Florin Oprea has been looking forward to the event in The Hague for months. “What I want to see in May? The tulips of course. After all the Netherlands is the land of tulips. But above all, I look forward to the people; spectators and participants. When I am abroad, I always find it interesting to start conversations, to discover what people are like, how they think.”
#10 – The Polish Invictus team has ideal training conditions

#10 – The Polish Invictus team has ideal training conditions

It was as if it was supposed to be that way. When Rafał Lis went looking for a new challenge to do with sports in his hometown of Gorzów Wielkopolski, he found the archery club of Ryszard Bukański, the Paralympic and winner of multiple World Cup medals. “I wanted to try out the sport, see if it suited me.” Lis not only quickly advanced in the sport, it also turned out to be a steppingstone to participating in the Invictus Games on behalf of Poland.
#11 – Invictus Games team captain USA has become a different person

#11 – Invictus Games team captain USA has become a different person

At first Joshua Smith mainly thought of the things he could no longer do. Injured by an unfortunate coincidence, he became very limited in his possibilities. However, the captain of Team USA has become a different person. “I am now focusing on what I can do. And I am happy that I have been able to create so many new friendships.”
#12 – Rehabilitation Centre gives Georgian soldiers a unique opportunity to recover

#12 – Rehabilitation Centre gives Georgian soldiers a unique opportunity to recover

Burduli is team captain of the Georgian team for the Invictus Games. He recently moved to a beautiful new Rehabilitation Centre in Tserovani. Here, wounded soldiers are able to work in peace on their physical and mental recovery. And the final preparations for the Invictus Games in May are being done here.
#13 – Marcin Staniszewski teamcaptain Germany Invictus Games 2020

#13 – Marcin Staniszewski teamcaptain Germany Invictus Games 2020

It will be Marcin Staniszewski’s second Invictus Games. He previously participated in Toronto, in 2017. The captain of the German delegation can still vividly remember his stay in Canada. “Everything made a huge impression on me. Now as the leader of our team, I will try to prepare everyone as much as possible. It shouldn't be too overwhelming; you have to enjoy participating in The Hague.”
#14 – Shane Bramley found himself again thanks to adapted sports

#14 – Shane Bramley found himself again thanks to adapted sports

As a child, Shane Bramley loved sports. So much so, that when he eventually became a sports instructor in the army, it came as no surprise. Yet the Australian did at some point distance himself from sports. His illness, Fibromyalgia, made him so exhausted that he could not only physically cope with it anymore, but he also did not enjoy it anymore. However, years later, he got into sports again, thanks to the Adaptive Sports Program from Veterans Sports Australia. It helped him get his life back on track.
#15 – Stef Wolput: “A person can do much more than he perceives”

#15 – Stef Wolput: “A person can do much more than he perceives”

It is perhaps silly to say that Stef Wolput is not going a mountain too high, but in fact that is true. The Belgian, who is debuting with his country at the Invictus Games, has already conquered an 8000’er twice in the Himalayas. And that while, as a result of a neurological disorder, he has little or no strength and feeling in his right lower leg. “I have been in a deep rut. Until I realized that a person can do much more than he perceives.”
#16 – Invictus Games helps overcome barriers

#16 – Invictus Games helps overcome barriers

You can't deny Ivan Rudyi willpower. The Ukrainian, team captain of the Invictus team of his country, was told by the doctors that he couldn't use his right hand anymore. And look at him now: at the Invictus Games he joins the powerlift. "That announcement in the hospital made that I had to prove that I could physically become as strong again as I wanted, and not as weak as someone else predicted.
#17 – Mickaël wants even more dedication in training

#17 – Mickaël wants even more dedication in training

Of course Mickaël would have liked to have been in the Netherlands this week, the team captain of the French team was very much looking forward to the Invictus Games. "There is nothing better than to spend time with friends, with other participants, brothers in arms, your family and the volunteers. But unfortunately it is not possible this year. We'll have to wait until 2021."
#18 – For Afghan military, participating at the Invictus Games brings hope

#18 – For Afghan military, participating at the Invictus Games brings hope

It is also a testing period for the Afghan participants of the Invictus Games. Normally they would now be in the Netherlands for the event, but the worldwide spread of the Covid-19 virus decided differently. "But we have high hopes that in 2021 it might be an even better event."
#19 – Invictus Games debut for South Korea makes Kim proud

#19 – Invictus Games debut for South Korea makes Kim proud

The Republic of Korea will participate in the Invictus Games for the first time in 2021. Yoon Kun Kim is proud to fulfill this awareness. And it also gives him a considerable sense of responsibility. Because as team captain of the Korean team, he wants himself and his teammates to perform well.
#20 – Iraq is looking forward to the Invictus Games

#20 – Iraq is looking forward to the Invictus Games

Iraq is one of the 14 countries that were invited for the very first edition, in London, in 2014. However, the Iraqis were not able to send a team at that time. That was no reason for the Invictus Games Foundation not to invite Iraq afterwards. In Orlando (2016) Iraq was still present, just like in Toronto (2017) and Sydney (2018).