:00:12. > :00:21.Hello and welcome to Invictus 2016. For the next five days we will be
:00:22. > :00:27.following it from here in Orlando, Florida. There will be over 500
:00:28. > :00:35.competitors from 14 nations taking to the track, court and pool. We
:00:36. > :00:39.will bring you all the action as injured service men and women who
:00:40. > :00:44.fought together on the battlefield, compete together on the sports
:00:45. > :00:49.field. And we will keep an eye on the UK Armed Forces team as they aim
:00:50. > :00:54.to repeat the success of 2014. But we will be telling incredible
:00:55. > :00:56.stories, and finding out why these games are matter so much for those
:00:57. > :01:25.taking part. We're based by the main entrance
:01:26. > :01:31.to the Games complex and already this morning we've witnessed some
:01:32. > :01:33.great cycling action We'll be bringing you the highlights
:01:34. > :01:42.of those races later on, plus a very special guest -
:01:43. > :01:46.Prince Harry will be here. Last night, he and the First Lady,
:01:47. > :01:48.Michelle Obama, launched the 2016 Games with a spectacular
:01:49. > :01:52.Opening Ceremony, and we'll bring But of course, the reason we're
:01:53. > :01:59.all here, is because the first Invictus Games in London were such
:02:00. > :02:12.a huge success. Over the next four days we will see
:02:13. > :02:17.some truly remarkable achievements. But some of those taking part, these
:02:18. > :02:22.will be a stepping stone. For others, it will mark the end of a
:02:23. > :02:25.chapter in their recovery and Mark beginning of another one. I have no
:02:26. > :02:38.doubt lives will be changed this weekend. Welcome to Invictus. The
:02:39. > :02:43.first race is underway. I way they go.
:02:44. > :02:51.These guys are used to fighting it out on the battlefield, now they are
:02:52. > :02:58.fighting it out on the court, surrounded by 6000 screaming people.
:02:59. > :03:05.This is a superb effort. Absolutely brilliant ride. There is a crash. It
:03:06. > :03:10.is one of the French riders. I always knew it was going to work,
:03:11. > :03:22.but you never know until you see it happen. Walker, borderline. The
:03:23. > :03:41.Dutch have one. It's all over. Great Britain have
:03:42. > :03:45.won the gold. It is 01, two, three for great Britain and the three of
:03:46. > :03:49.them have decided they will come across the line together here. What
:03:50. > :03:55.Games, what a week. Three people who also remember those
:03:56. > :03:57.2014 Games very well JJ Chalmers and and the only man
:03:58. > :04:04.who can get away with singing You called the first lady of it as
:04:05. > :04:14.Michelle Obama without winding You called the first lady of it as
:04:15. > :04:20.well, James? Good job. I You called the first lady of it as
:04:21. > :04:27.away with it. You You called the first lady of it as
:04:28. > :04:30.what has brought you back? Harry is dragging me around, I am using the
:04:31. > :04:32.what has brought you back? Harry is royal family to revive my
:04:33. > :04:35.what has brought you back? Harry is will be playing for
:04:36. > :04:39.what has brought you back? Harry is her 90th next week. He has done a
:04:40. > :04:42.great job putting these things aren't in the UK and the
:04:43. > :04:42.great job putting these things lucky to be able
:04:43. > :04:47.great job putting these things looked so emotional, you talked
:04:48. > :04:54.great job putting these things Army what feels like a long time
:04:55. > :04:58.ago. People are such a family, tight unit. I played the wrong notes and
:04:59. > :05:02.all of the British soldiers were taking the Mickey from behind my
:05:03. > :05:11.back. It felt like coming home. How did it feel compared to 2014? It is
:05:12. > :05:16.hotter here. It is Edgar. Armies across the world have a similar feel
:05:17. > :05:22.in many ways. What do you think it is, Tanni that sets Invictus apart?
:05:23. > :05:27.It is the various levels of competition. A lot of the guys talk
:05:28. > :05:33.about a journey and this is a stepping stone. We have a lot of
:05:34. > :05:39.Paralympian 's competing here and it is amazing to see the
:05:40. > :05:45.transformation. More athletes and a higher standard of competition. It
:05:46. > :05:52.is getting huge. And JJ, these Games are a form of rehabilitation, how
:05:53. > :06:00.have they helped you? Change my life, the simplest way of saying it.
:06:01. > :06:04.I came to do some sports, as part of my recovery, something I had chosen
:06:05. > :06:08.to do instead of the mundane stuff forced upon me because of my
:06:09. > :06:13.injuries. But it opened my eyes to a new world. The power of sport is
:06:14. > :06:18.incredible. Turns out you are a natural broadcaster and we have had
:06:19. > :06:23.you running around all over the place? I count myself lucky, it is
:06:24. > :06:26.an honour. There is a narrative and a message that needs to get across
:06:27. > :06:30.and some of it needs to come from a message that needs to get across
:06:31. > :06:32.the lads. I am honoured to be in that position. You spoke brilliantly
:06:33. > :06:39.last night. Welcome to the media. The athletes played an integral part
:06:40. > :06:41.in last night's Opening Ceremony, and it's time now to bring you some
:06:42. > :06:43.of the highlights. Eddie Butler and Tanni
:06:44. > :08:33.were there to witness proceedings, The Invictus fanfare and the
:08:34. > :08:42.star-spangled banner. The US Navy flight demonstration Squadron.
:08:43. > :08:52.Please welcome the competitors of the Invictus Games 2016.
:08:53. > :08:59.Afghanistan. The parade of nations, 14 countries and 500 competitors.
:09:00. > :09:03.Alongside me is one of the greats of Paralympic sport, Tanni
:09:04. > :09:14.Grey-Thompson. 16 medals in total. Tiny, you go back to Seoul in 1988,
:09:15. > :09:21.how did these Invictus Games strike you? They take it back to the
:09:22. > :09:25.government's original idea of the Paralympic Games, which was for
:09:26. > :09:34.serving men and women from the military. The first games in 1948
:09:35. > :09:38.only had 16 competitors, and two were women. Invictus takes it to
:09:39. > :09:44.another level of support for serving and retired personnel. The
:09:45. > :09:49.inspiration for Prince Harry came from the Warrier games, which is the
:09:50. > :09:53.all American version of looking after their wounded warriors. In the
:09:54. > :09:57.past there has only been small numbers of service men and women who
:09:58. > :10:03.have gone on to compete in the Warrier games. Going back to London
:10:04. > :10:09.2012 and having the serving personnel on security was amazing.
:10:10. > :10:16.The guys were saying, the public were coming up to them and thanking
:10:17. > :10:21.them. What is interesting about Invictus, you have the friends and
:10:22. > :10:27.family who are sitting down in the stadium. A lot of the men and women
:10:28. > :10:30.talk about a journey. They go through this really challenging
:10:31. > :10:34.journey as well. Unlike the Paralympics where your friends and
:10:35. > :10:41.family arms allowed anywhere near you, it is the recognition that this
:10:42. > :10:45.is an important part. As is the champion stadium, which was built as
:10:46. > :10:50.a baseball park. It would not have seen many sites like this, Tanni. It
:10:51. > :10:56.is quite some site, darkness is falling. The transformation is
:10:57. > :11:01.incredible, I wasn't sure what to expect when we came in. But they
:11:02. > :11:06.have done a great job of making it look like a stadium. When I was
:11:07. > :11:10.queueing to get in, people were very excited and were talking about the
:11:11. > :11:15.different events they wanted to come and watch. In America, Paralympics
:11:16. > :11:21.isn't well-known and doesn't get a lot of coverage. This is what has
:11:22. > :11:28.ignited a huge amount of support, getting behind the US team and a lot
:11:29. > :11:32.of serving personnel. What is interesting about this, when you see
:11:33. > :11:39.the friends and family outside, they are all wearing their national
:11:40. > :11:44.colours. So the Paralympics and the Olympics, you see the Dutch wearing
:11:45. > :11:47.a lot of orange and the Swiss with their flags, but here, it is
:11:48. > :11:52.surprising how much support there is. It is nice to be able to pick
:11:53. > :11:57.out the British supporters and their friends and family because they have
:11:58. > :12:01.family on the back of their T-shirt. The two largest teams of competitors
:12:02. > :12:12.will come out last. The volume is about to go up a notch as the UK
:12:13. > :12:19.team prepares to enter the stadium. Welcome to the UK. Nothing compares
:12:20. > :12:31.with what is going to greet the biggest team, the host team, the
:12:32. > :12:34.United states. The captain of the UK team, David Weisman, will be
:12:35. > :12:40.competing in the rowing and the swimming. United States of America.
:12:41. > :13:13.CHEERING AND APPLAUSE Ladies and gentlemen, the
:13:14. > :13:19.competitors of the second Invictus Games. The athletes have assembled
:13:20. > :13:26.and joining them, Laura Wright, hockey player, Rob B, net all,
:13:27. > :13:56.tennis and javelin. Also Sopranos and champion of these games.
:13:57. > :14:41.# When we see the crowds draw in # Our heads hold high
:14:42. > :14:56.# To dream the dream # Of winners past
:14:57. > :15:00.# To feel the fight that drives us on
:15:01. > :15:33.# United strong # We hear the cries of victory
:15:34. > :15:58.# Still we stand as one # To dream the dream of winners past
:15:59. > :16:03.# Clapton #
:16:04. > :16:18.APPLAUSE # To feel the fight that drives us
:16:19. > :16:25.on. # To victory.
:16:26. > :16:39.CHEERING AND APPLAUSE It is such a pleasure and
:16:40. > :16:42.an honour to be here with so many inspiring people. It feels like
:16:43. > :16:46.coming back home. Thank you so much for having me, all of you. I would
:16:47. > :16:49.normally dedicate this song to Prince Harry, because he's hot. But
:16:50. > :16:53.there's someone a little fitter than him tonight. I'd like to dedicate
:16:54. > :16:55.this song to your First Lady, Michelle Obama. Michelle, this is
:16:56. > :17:15.for you. # My life is brilliant
:17:16. > :17:18.# My love is pure # I saw an angel
:17:19. > :17:25.# Of that I'm sure # She smiled at me on the subway
:17:26. > :17:32.# She was with another man # But I won't lose no sleep on that
:17:33. > :17:50.# Because I've got a plan # You're beautiful it's true
:17:51. > :17:58.# I saw your face in a crowded place # And I don't know what to do
:17:59. > :18:18.# Cuz I'll never be with you. # Yes, she caught my eye
:18:19. > :18:24.# As you walked on by # She could see from my face that I
:18:25. > :18:31.was flying high # And I don't think that I'll see
:18:32. > :18:37.her again # But we shared a moment that will
:18:38. > :18:39.last till the end you sing it then...
:18:40. > :18:44.# You're beautiful # You're beautiful
:18:45. > :18:54.# You're beautiful it's true # You're beautiful
:18:55. > :18:58.# I will never be with you #
:18:59. > :19:03.CHEERING AND #
:19:04. > :19:09.APPLAUSE Ladies and gentleman, please welcome Prince Harry.
:19:10. > :19:14.CHEERING I've spent ten years in the British Army and I was deployed to
:19:15. > :19:20.Afghanistan twice. I served alongside soldiers from all over the
:19:21. > :19:25.world. I saw the sacrifices you and your families made to serve your
:19:26. > :19:29.nations. While I have your attention, though, I want to briefly
:19:30. > :19:34.speak about an issue that for far too many of you is shrouded in shame
:19:35. > :19:35.and fear. It is not just physical injuries
:19:36. > :19:40.and fear. It is not just physical competitors have overcome. When we
:19:41. > :19:45.give a standing ovation to the competitor with a missing limb,
:19:46. > :19:48.let's also cheer our hearts out for the man who overcame anxiety so
:19:49. > :19:54.severe he couldn't even leave his house.
:19:55. > :19:59.Over the next four days, you will get to know these amazing
:20:00. > :20:02.competitors. They weren't too tough to admit that they struggle with
:20:03. > :20:08.mental health. They weren't too tough to get help that they needed.
:20:09. > :20:11.I hope you see the bravery of our Invictus champions, who have
:20:12. > :20:22.confronted invisible injuries. CHEERING
:20:23. > :20:27.STUDIO: A powerful speech. More from Prince Harry later on. If you'd like
:20:28. > :20:30.to see extended coverage from the Opening Ceremony, it's on the BBCi
:20:31. > :20:35.player tomorrow. One thing we left out of the highlights is the
:20:36. > :20:41.performance by Gareth Mane's Invictus choir because we don't want
:20:42. > :20:47.to spoil the second part of his documentary. You were awedibly
:20:48. > :20:52.emotion, very moved. This has been intensely emotion. It's so
:20:53. > :20:55.inspiring. I just came from watching people rowing, guys with one arm
:20:56. > :21:00.giving it everything. It's a beautiful thing to behold. You've
:21:01. > :21:03.put together so many choirs over the years, people from all walks of
:21:04. > :21:07.life. What is this experience like? It's on another level. There's the
:21:08. > :21:10.difficulties are so great. It was great to hear Prince Harry speak
:21:11. > :21:15.about the mental health issues. That attracted me to the idea of being
:21:16. > :21:21.involved. It's such an untold and misunderstood thing. Behaviour is so
:21:22. > :21:24.difficult for us to understand and it's so important that they do have
:21:25. > :21:30.that support, after everything they've been through. The emotions
:21:31. > :21:33.you could clearly see on the choir's faces as well. What was it like for
:21:34. > :21:40.them, the journey for them, did you speak ebbing to them afterwards? --
:21:41. > :21:44.did you speak to them afterwards? Yeah, it's been a huge journey. They
:21:45. > :21:48.wake up today and they are still living with disability or anxiety or
:21:49. > :21:54.all those things, it's still there. This was a moment to say - I am
:21:55. > :21:57.here. I am a singer. I was going to say they're living with all of that
:21:58. > :22:02.and you stressed them out by making them perform in front of all these
:22:03. > :22:06.people! I know how stressful it is. It is stressful. For a moment there,
:22:07. > :22:13.I wondered whether this was a good thing. Now I have no doubt. Music is
:22:14. > :22:18.as powerful as sport in making those sorts of transformations. You can
:22:19. > :22:21.see the full performance on the second part of the documentary this
:22:22. > :22:27.Thursday. First let's have a glimpse and see how they got on.
:22:28. > :22:35.# I have been strong # I have been weak
:22:36. > :22:39.# And there were days I could not breathe
:22:40. > :22:46.# But from the dust # And through the snow
:22:47. > :22:53.# We've come together now What did you make this afternoon, James?
:22:54. > :22:56.Fantastic. Good job. Thank you. You gave Prince Harry a bit of stick
:22:57. > :23:00.last night. I know you must be on speed dial for him to sing wherever
:23:01. > :23:07.he demands. Has he got a voice himself? Yeah, he sings like an
:23:08. > :23:11.angel. We'll be forming a band soon. No musical talent there? I don't
:23:12. > :23:17.know. You'd have to ask him yourself. I tried. It's not about
:23:18. > :23:21.him, is it, let's face it. It's about the guys. He's quite happy to
:23:22. > :23:22.step out of the way on that one. That's a diplomatic coach there.
:23:23. > :23:33.Thank you very much. There's no official medal Taining
:23:34. > :23:38.for the Invictus Games -- medal table for the Invictus Games. Who
:23:39. > :23:45.are our medal prospects for 2016. Captain, David Wise wise gave us --
:23:46. > :23:48.David Wiseman gave us the inside track on the runners and riders.
:23:49. > :23:53.2014 we saw the effect we had there. It was fantastic. We came home with
:23:54. > :23:57.a boat load of medals, that's just the impetus for everyone to bring it
:23:58. > :24:06.up another gear. So many guys across the different sports I'm keen to
:24:07. > :24:11.watch. First in the archery, big old Dan Grobbelar. He's one to watch.
:24:12. > :24:16.Archery is more finesse. In rugby I can go full on brute and just smash
:24:17. > :24:22.people. In the cycle, Jaco Van Gass. He's been working hard to get into
:24:23. > :24:28.the GB cycling team. Everyone will remember Dave Henson from 2014. He
:24:29. > :24:31.led the UK armed forced team. I have very big shoes to fill. He will
:24:32. > :24:35.deliver fantastic results on the track. Jennifer Warren, he's been
:24:36. > :24:43.putting in the hours in training. She's one to watch. I last the -- I
:24:44. > :24:48.watched the last Invictus Games. I've been waiting for it. I can't
:24:49. > :24:51.wait for the power lifting. He's a unit from north of the border. He
:24:52. > :24:56.will defend his Gold Medal. I can't wait to cheer him on. One to watch,
:24:57. > :25:00.certainly on the cycle track is Paul Vice. The people we really want to
:25:01. > :25:04.beat are the Americans. They put on a great show. It's nothing worse
:25:05. > :25:09.than somebody coming to your house and breaking your stuff. We rattled
:25:10. > :25:13.a lot of cages in 20146789 we took -- 2014. We took gold in all the
:25:14. > :25:16.team sports. That stung the Americans. Because of the judge
:25:17. > :25:20.match element it will be fantastic viewing. No-one's going to give us a
:25:21. > :25:23.medal. All the teams want to win. You have to do the job on the way.
:25:24. > :25:26.Not only is Charlie Walker competing in all three team sports, he's
:25:27. > :25:31.coaching the volleyball team as well. He is a true asset for the
:25:32. > :25:35.2016 UK armed forces team. Everyone gets it. The whole world is
:25:36. > :25:39.watching. Everyone has the bit between their teeth, they just want
:25:40. > :25:45.the competition to start. The GB Team look awesome. They
:25:46. > :25:52.really mean business. Tanni and JJ have rejoined us here. Who are you
:25:53. > :25:56.looking out for? It's got to be Dave Henson, double above knee amputee,
:25:57. > :26:01.it's a category that transfers straight to the Paralympics. He
:26:02. > :26:06.competed in 2014. His -- competed in 2014. He came seventh in the World
:26:07. > :26:10.Championships. Keeping our fingers crossed for Rio. No pressure! He's
:26:11. > :26:14.one of the athletes that everyone will be looking out for. They will
:26:15. > :26:20.want to beat him. He's a big scalp. Yes absolutely. He's doing so well.
:26:21. > :26:24.JJ, we walked around here and saw the star spanningled banners, the
:26:25. > :26:27.home support is massive. You feel like they want revenge, don't they?
:26:28. > :26:33.The home turf will be a factor for them. Yeah, revenge is the best word
:26:34. > :26:40.for it. 2014, the Olympic Park, it was more than we ever expected. They
:26:41. > :26:46.had to up their game, in a lot of respects. If I ever doubted the
:26:47. > :26:51.nation's commitment, in the UK, it certainly alleviated my doubts to
:26:52. > :26:56.see the support we got from our country. We might not be the type of
:26:57. > :27:00.people who come up to you in the street and say, "Thank you for your
:27:01. > :27:06.service." But we were appreciated. The stick in the American
:27:07. > :27:11.patriotism, it will be a driving force for them. JJ touched on it,
:27:12. > :27:15.looking at the standards from 2014, do you think the athletes have got
:27:16. > :27:22.faster and stronger and fitter now in 2016? Yeah, you look at Sam
:27:23. > :27:31.Stocks, who has totally changed body shape. Also the numbers have gone
:27:32. > :27:41.through. The prelimb fares in the athletes -- prelims in theage lets,
:27:42. > :27:45.much better. One of the wonderful things is that I've come here for
:27:46. > :27:48.the same energy and excitement this year as I did last time. That's one
:27:49. > :27:50.of the great thing about Invictus. We love having you here. Thank you
:27:51. > :27:55.so much. More of JJ. Now for all Eastenders
:27:56. > :27:57.fans don't worry, it's But we'll be back in half an hour
:27:58. > :28:02.with more from the Opening Ceremony. And, we'll be live with Prince
:28:03. > :28:09.Harry. I am... Watching. I am... Humbled. I
:28:10. > :28:16.am... Inspired. I am... Amazed. I am... Entertained. I am... In awe. I
:28:17. > :28:22.am... Seriously impressed. I am... Supporting. I am... Astounded. I
:28:23. > :28:27.am... Predicting sunshine and success. I am... Hooked. I am...