Opening Ceremony Invictus Games

Hello and welcome to Invictus 2016. For the next five days we will be

following it from here in Orlando, Florida. There will be over 500

competitors from 14 nations taking to the track, court and pool. We

will bring you all the action as injured service men and women who

fought together on the battlefield, compete together on the sports

field. And we will keep an eye on the UK Armed Forces team as they aim

to repeat the success of 2014. But we will be telling incredible

stories, and finding out why these games are matter so much for those

taking part. We're based by the main entrance

to the Games complex and already this morning we've witnessed some

great cycling action We'll be bringing you the highlights

of those races later on, plus a very special guest -

Prince Harry will be here. Last night, he and the First Lady,

Michelle Obama, launched the 2016 Games with a spectacular

Opening Ceremony, and we'll bring But of course, the reason we're

all here, is because the first Invictus Games in London were such

a huge success. Over the next four days we will see

some truly remarkable achievements. But some of those taking part, these

will be a stepping stone. For others, it will mark the end of a

chapter in their recovery and Mark beginning of another one. I have no

doubt lives will be changed this weekend. Welcome to Invictus. The

first race is underway. I way they go.

These guys are used to fighting it out on the battlefield, now they are

fighting it out on the court, surrounded by 6000 screaming people.

This is a superb effort. Absolutely brilliant ride. There is a crash. It

is one of the French riders. I always knew it was going to work,

but you never know until you see it happen. Walker, borderline. The

Dutch have one. It's all over. Great Britain have

won the gold. It is 01, two, three for great Britain and the three of

them have decided they will come across the line together here. What

Games, what a week. Three people who also remember those

2014 Games very well JJ Chalmers and and the only man

who can get away with singing You called the first lady of it as

Michelle Obama without winding You called the first lady of it as

well, James? Good job. I You called the first lady of it as

away with it. You You called the first lady of it as

what has brought you back? Harry is dragging me around, I am using the

what has brought you back? Harry is royal family to revive my

what has brought you back? Harry is will be playing for

what has brought you back? Harry is her 90th next week. He has done a

great job putting these things aren't in the UK and the

great job putting these things lucky to be able

great job putting these things looked so emotional, you talked

great job putting these things Army what feels like a long time

ago. People are such a family, tight unit. I played the wrong notes and

all of the British soldiers were taking the Mickey from behind my

back. It felt like coming home. How did it feel compared to 2014? It is

hotter here. It is Edgar. Armies across the world have a similar feel

in many ways. What do you think it is, Tanni that sets Invictus apart?

It is the various levels of competition. A lot of the guys talk

about a journey and this is a stepping stone. We have a lot of

Paralympian 's competing here and it is amazing to see the

transformation. More athletes and a higher standard of competition. It

is getting huge. And JJ, these Games are a form of rehabilitation, how

have they helped you? Change my life, the simplest way of saying it.

I came to do some sports, as part of my recovery, something I had chosen

to do instead of the mundane stuff forced upon me because of my

injuries. But it opened my eyes to a new world. The power of sport is

incredible. Turns out you are a natural broadcaster and we have had

you running around all over the place? I count myself lucky, it is

an honour. There is a narrative and a message that needs to get across

and some of it needs to come from a message that needs to get across

the lads. I am honoured to be in that position. You spoke brilliantly

last night. Welcome to the media. The athletes played an integral part

in last night's Opening Ceremony, and it's time now to bring you some

of the highlights. Eddie Butler and Tanni

were there to witness proceedings, The Invictus fanfare and the

star-spangled banner. The US Navy flight demonstration Squadron.

Please welcome the competitors of the Invictus Games 2016.

Afghanistan. The parade of nations, 14 countries and 500 competitors.

Alongside me is one of the greats of Paralympic sport, Tanni

Grey-Thompson. 16 medals in total. Tiny, you go back to Seoul in 1988,

how did these Invictus Games strike you? They take it back to the

government's original idea of the Paralympic Games, which was for

serving men and women from the military. The first games in 1948

only had 16 competitors, and two were women. Invictus takes it to

another level of support for serving and retired personnel. The

inspiration for Prince Harry came from the Warrier games, which is the

all American version of looking after their wounded warriors. In the

past there has only been small numbers of service men and women who

have gone on to compete in the Warrier games. Going back to London

2012 and having the serving personnel on security was amazing.

The guys were saying, the public were coming up to them and thanking

them. What is interesting about Invictus, you have the friends and

family who are sitting down in the stadium. A lot of the men and women

talk about a journey. They go through this really challenging

journey as well. Unlike the Paralympics where your friends and

family arms allowed anywhere near you, it is the recognition that this

is an important part. As is the champion stadium, which was built as

a baseball park. It would not have seen many sites like this, Tanni. It

is quite some site, darkness is falling. The transformation is

incredible, I wasn't sure what to expect when we came in. But they

have done a great job of making it look like a stadium. When I was

queueing to get in, people were very excited and were talking about the

different events they wanted to come and watch. In America, Paralympics

isn't well-known and doesn't get a lot of coverage. This is what has

ignited a huge amount of support, getting behind the US team and a lot

of serving personnel. What is interesting about this, when you see

the friends and family outside, they are all wearing their national

colours. So the Paralympics and the Olympics, you see the Dutch wearing

a lot of orange and the Swiss with their flags, but here, it is

surprising how much support there is. It is nice to be able to pick

out the British supporters and their friends and family because they have

family on the back of their T-shirt. The two largest teams of competitors

will come out last. The volume is about to go up a notch as the UK

team prepares to enter the stadium. Welcome to the UK. Nothing compares

with what is going to greet the biggest team, the host team, the

United states. The captain of the UK team, David Weisman, will be

competing in the rowing and the swimming. United States of America.

CHEERING AND APPLAUSE Ladies and gentlemen, the

competitors of the second Invictus Games. The athletes have assembled

and joining them, Laura Wright, hockey player, Rob B, net all,

tennis and javelin. Also Sopranos and champion of these games.

# When we see the crowds draw in # Our heads hold high

# To dream the dream # Of winners past

# To feel the fight that drives us on

# United strong # We hear the cries of victory

# Still we stand as one # To dream the dream of winners past

# Clapton #

APPLAUSE # To feel the fight that drives us

on. # To victory.

CHEERING AND APPLAUSE It is such a pleasure and

an honour to be here with so many inspiring people. It feels like

coming back home. Thank you so much for having me, all of you. I would

normally dedicate this song to Prince Harry, because he's hot. But

there's someone a little fitter than him tonight. I'd like to dedicate

this song to your First Lady, Michelle Obama. Michelle, this is

for you. # My life is brilliant

# My love is pure # I saw an angel

# Of that I'm sure # She smiled at me on the subway

# She was with another man # But I won't lose no sleep on that

# Because I've got a plan # You're beautiful it's true

# I saw your face in a crowded place # And I don't know what to do

# Cuz I'll never be with you. # Yes, she caught my eye

# As you walked on by # She could see from my face that I

was flying high # And I don't think that I'll see

her again # But we shared a moment that will

last till the end you sing it then...

# You're beautiful # You're beautiful

# You're beautiful it's true # You're beautiful

# I will never be with you #

CHEERING AND #

APPLAUSE Ladies and gentleman, please welcome Prince Harry.

CHEERING I've spent ten years in the British Army and I was deployed to

Afghanistan twice. I served alongside soldiers from all over the

world. I saw the sacrifices you and your families made to serve your

nations. While I have your attention, though, I want to briefly

speak about an issue that for far too many of you is shrouded in shame

and fear. It is not just physical injuries

and fear. It is not just physical competitors have overcome. When we

give a standing ovation to the competitor with a missing limb,

let's also cheer our hearts out for the man who overcame anxiety so

severe he couldn't even leave his house.

Over the next four days, you will get to know these amazing

competitors. They weren't too tough to admit that they struggle with

mental health. They weren't too tough to get help that they needed.

I hope you see the bravery of our Invictus champions, who have

confronted invisible injuries. CHEERING

STUDIO: A powerful speech. More from Prince Harry later on. If you'd like

to see extended coverage from the Opening Ceremony, it's on the BBCi

player tomorrow. One thing we left out of the highlights is the

performance by Gareth Mane's Invictus choir because we don't want

to spoil the second part of his documentary. You were awedibly

emotion, very moved. This has been intensely emotion. It's so

inspiring. I just came from watching people rowing, guys with one arm

giving it everything. It's a beautiful thing to behold. You've

put together so many choirs over the years, people from all walks of

life. What is this experience like? It's on another level. There's the

difficulties are so great. It was great to hear Prince Harry speak

about the mental health issues. That attracted me to the idea of being

involved. It's such an untold and misunderstood thing. Behaviour is so

difficult for us to understand and it's so important that they do have

that support, after everything they've been through. The emotions

you could clearly see on the choir's faces as well. What was it like for

them, the journey for them, did you speak ebbing to them afterwards? --

did you speak to them afterwards? Yeah, it's been a huge journey. They

wake up today and they are still living with disability or anxiety or

all those things, it's still there. This was a moment to say - I am

here. I am a singer. I was going to say they're living with all of that

and you stressed them out by making them perform in front of all these

people! I know how stressful it is. It is stressful. For a moment there,

I wondered whether this was a good thing. Now I have no doubt. Music is

as powerful as sport in making those sorts of transformations. You can

see the full performance on the second part of the documentary this

Thursday. First let's have a glimpse and see how they got on.

# I have been strong # I have been weak

# And there were days I could not breathe

# But from the dust # And through the snow

# We've come together now What did you make this afternoon, James?

Fantastic. Good job. Thank you. You gave Prince Harry a bit of stick

last night. I know you must be on speed dial for him to sing wherever

he demands. Has he got a voice himself? Yeah, he sings like an

angel. We'll be forming a band soon. No musical talent there? I don't

know. You'd have to ask him yourself. I tried. It's not about

him, is it, let's face it. It's about the guys. He's quite happy to

step out of the way on that one. That's a diplomatic coach there.

Thank you very much. There's no official medal Taining

for the Invictus Games -- medal table for the Invictus Games. Who

are our medal prospects for 2016. Captain, David Wise wise gave us --

David Wiseman gave us the inside track on the runners and riders.

2014 we saw the effect we had there. It was fantastic. We came home with

a boat load of medals, that's just the impetus for everyone to bring it

up another gear. So many guys across the different sports I'm keen to

watch. First in the archery, big old Dan Grobbelar. He's one to watch.

Archery is more finesse. In rugby I can go full on brute and just smash

people. In the cycle, Jaco Van Gass. He's been working hard to get into

the GB cycling team. Everyone will remember Dave Henson from 2014. He

led the UK armed forced team. I have very big shoes to fill. He will

deliver fantastic results on the track. Jennifer Warren, he's been

putting in the hours in training. She's one to watch. I last the -- I

watched the last Invictus Games. I've been waiting for it. I can't

wait for the power lifting. He's a unit from north of the border. He

will defend his Gold Medal. I can't wait to cheer him on. One to watch,

certainly on the cycle track is Paul Vice. The people we really want to

beat are the Americans. They put on a great show. It's nothing worse

than somebody coming to your house and breaking your stuff. We rattled

a lot of cages in 20146789 we took -- 2014. We took gold in all the

team sports. That stung the Americans. Because of the judge

match element it will be fantastic viewing. No-one's going to give us a

medal. All the teams want to win. You have to do the job on the way.

Not only is Charlie Walker competing in all three team sports, he's

coaching the volleyball team as well. He is a true asset for the

2016 UK armed forces team. Everyone gets it. The whole world is

watching. Everyone has the bit between their teeth, they just want

the competition to start. The GB Team look awesome. They

really mean business. Tanni and JJ have rejoined us here. Who are you

looking out for? It's got to be Dave Henson, double above knee amputee,

it's a category that transfers straight to the Paralympics. He

competed in 2014. His -- competed in 2014. He came seventh in the World

Championships. Keeping our fingers crossed for Rio. No pressure! He's

one of the athletes that everyone will be looking out for. They will

want to beat him. He's a big scalp. Yes absolutely. He's doing so well.

JJ, we walked around here and saw the star spanningled banners, the

home support is massive. You feel like they want revenge, don't they?

The home turf will be a factor for them. Yeah, revenge is the best word

for it. 2014, the Olympic Park, it was more than we ever expected. They

had to up their game, in a lot of respects. If I ever doubted the

nation's commitment, in the UK, it certainly alleviated my doubts to

see the support we got from our country. We might not be the type of

people who come up to you in the street and say, "Thank you for your

service." But we were appreciated. The stick in the American

patriotism, it will be a driving force for them. JJ touched on it,

looking at the standards from 2014, do you think the athletes have got

faster and stronger and fitter now in 2016? Yeah, you look at Sam

Stocks, who has totally changed body shape. Also the numbers have gone

through. The prelimb fares in the athletes -- prelims in theage lets,

much better. One of the wonderful things is that I've come here for

the same energy and excitement this year as I did last time. That's one

of the great thing about Invictus. We love having you here. Thank you

so much. More of JJ. Now for all Eastenders

fans don't worry, it's But we'll be back in half an hour

with more from the Opening Ceremony. And, we'll be live with Prince

Harry. I am... Watching. I am... Humbled. I

am... Inspired. I am... Amazed. I am... Entertained. I am... In awe. I

am... Seriously impressed. I am... Supporting. I am... Astounded. I

am... Predicting sunshine and success. I am... Hooked. I am...