Day 1 Invictus Games

Hello and welcome back to Orlando and the 2016

In a moment, the man behind it all, Prince Harry will be here.

There's more grit, glitz and glamour from the Opening Ceremony.

And we'll have highlights from the cycling, which got off

The coverage is not just here on BBC One,

about the Invictus Games and what's lined up

Plus every night there's a live page where you can get

the athletes a chance to enjoy the limelight.

It was also an opportunity for their families to look on with pride.

Let's rejoin the Opening Ceremony, where we left off.

Eddie Butler in the commentary box. It is an honour to be here to kick

off this year's Invictus Games. I want to start by thanking Prince

Harry for his outstanding leadership and for bringing the Invictus Games

here to Orlando. He is truly our Prince charming, isn't he?

CHEERING He should be proud of himself for

this work. In return, I have generously asked the US team not to

win too much, right? ! It's really the least we can do, right?

Seriously, I'm here to honour all of you, our extraordinary service

members, our veterans and of course, our military families. You all are

amazing, truly amazing. I wish you all the best of luck in your

competitions and I hope you have a lot of fun along the way. Have fun!

Now it is my pleasure to introduce one of our fabulous Invictus Games

ambassadors Mr Morgan Freeman. APPLAUSE Let me introduce you to two

British Royal Marines, John-James Chalmers and Lewis Nethercot are

friends, who have trained, served and recovered together. This is

their story. Five years ago, I was living my

dream, as I served on the frontline in Afghanistan, as a Royal Marine

commando. One day, in a split second, everything changed. An

explosion tore through our section. It destroyed what was in its path,

it wounded, it maimed, it killed. Then you return home and everything

you had known has changed. You can feel isolated. You can feel

hopeless, broken. Fortunately, that wasn't me, because although my body

was wounded, my mind was not. That dark world that I just described was

life for my mate Lewis. Though the blast did not touch him, it had

affected him. He was the first to patch me up. After the blast, it's

because of him that I'm stood here tonight. Fortunately, I entered a

world where we can celebrate physical disability. But

unfortunately, it doesn't always stretch to mental health. The

Invictus Games reaches further than just its competitors. It touches

friends, families, care givers and supporters. The Invictus Games can

change your life. You just have to take that first step. I may still

have dark days ahead of me, but I can assure you the next four days

won't be among them. On behalf of myself and JJ, we wish you guys the

best of luck at the Invictus Games. Thank you.

APPLAUSE Thank you, fellas. A powerful friendship, a powerful

story. Disability and recovery come in different forms. The wounds of

war can be easy to see and physically obvious or hidden and

painfully difficult to accept. It is a horrifying statistic that the VA

estimates that 22 veterans take their own lives every day in this

country alone. Initiatives such as Invictus can provide a focus for

some of these issues. It can be a goal to strive for and it can raise

awareness to highlight the support needed by those suffering in

silence. Finally the Invictus anthem.

# Out of the night that covers me # Black as a from pole to pole

# I thank whatever may be for my uncomparable soul

# Matters not... # I am the master of my faith

# I am the captain of my soul # I am the master of my fate

# I am the captain of my soul. # I am the captain of my soul.

# And so they begin, the Invictus

Games, a reminder of the destructive power of war, of the healing power

of sport embedded in the title, three letters, forming two short

words, delivering one declaration of defiance - "I am. "

A powerful Opening Ceremony. If you'd like to see extended coverage

this afternoon ceremony, it will be on the BBCi player tomorrow.

Prince Harry is here now and Luke Sinnott. Thank you both for joining

us. Luke first, we felt the power of the Opening Ceremony and the

atmosphere, what was it like for you to be there and walk out into the

stadium? It was unbelievable. Having done a few Paralympic sports in the

past, I've walked into a few events and the crowds are, sometimes

they're good, but not is great. But that was just something else. That

was off the scale. To be the focus of the energy of the crowd was quite

emotional. I know a lot of guys were wiping the tears away, quite a few

of them. When they put the camera phones down, obviously! It was a

fantastic event. I just don't think that I'll ever forget something like

that. A top memory forever I'm sure people at home were wiping the tears

away as well. In 2014 you watched the Games from hospital. Now you're

here and competing in the Games. Has it lived up to your expectations?

Absolutely. You can't appreciate on the TV how much goes into something

like this. You just see the highlights and the Americans have

really gone out of their way on this one. The hospitality is just

unbelievable. I'm hurting from smiling. It's a brilliant

experience. I think having not been there at the last one, just seeing

what the guys are going through and how they're experiencing it, they've

outdone themselves. It's a great event. Prince Harry, you've set your

stall out in wanting to highlight post-traumatic stress and brain

injuries. Your speech did that last night. What do you hope the legacy

will be? I suppose as I briefly stated last night as well, I

genuinely believe that we've smashed the stigma around physical injuries

in London in 2014. If Orlando does the same for psychological injuries,

then that's amazing. Let's not forget, these are individuals who

literally at the pinnacle of their life have been completely cut down.

If individuals like this can come forward and talk about their

depression, their anxiety, post-traumatic stress, whatever it

may be, they're the leading the way for the rest of the British public

and everybody around the world. If they can do it, everybody else

should be able to do it. This is such a passion project for you. You

can see that. You must meet so many people for whom their lives have

changed through this experience. What's great is you can end up doing

25, 50 different engagements with small people trying to put a smile

on their face, trying to bring people together and trying to make a

difference in people's lives. The beauty of Invictus is the fact that

you are putting on an event and bringing so many people together,

amazing content, these guys, and every single one of the guys from

all the other nations as well. It gives an opportunity for members of

the public all over the world to draw this energy that these guys

give and this dedication and this service. As I said, these guys are

fantastic ambassadors. They've made me a better person. I hope for

everybody else it's the same. You can definitely feel the energy. How

was the Games and sport, how has it helped you? I think sport is the

most key part to most people's rehabilitation. You can't sit in a

gym and expect to achieve results. You've got to get out there and have

the drive and a passion to go for. I think the Games have given everyone

a focus this year. Whether you're competing at a top level outside the

Invictus Games or if competing at a top level outside the

dabbling for the first time, the guys have had this focus to work

towards for so long now. I think all of them, they walk better, they

stand taller. They look prouder. I think that's the effect that these

Games have on people. It's massive. Literally lives changing in front of

you. That's what's so cool. Big smiles and guys coming together and

wearing the Union Jack on your left chest or left arm again, that's what

it's all about. It transcends the military, to get people outside,

civilians being able to talk about it and motivated to do sport. It's

going on. You announced two weeks ago, next time in Canada. The Prime

Minister gave one right back at you. Press ups! No, no, no. He has been

given a lot of praise for doing a one-arm press up. He gets there, one

arm press up. You're not having that. We need more. How many can you

do? Quite a few, but I'm not going to do them on live television. Boom.

How long do you envisage this going on for, you've announced Canada,

where beyond there? I don't want to be depressing about it, it's a

simple case of as long as it's serving a purpose for these guys

we'll continue to do it. We don't want to drag it out. I don't mind

putting it in a box, and God forbid we have to bring it out again. The

biggest responsibility for us now is that the brand is so much bigger

than we thought it would be. It means so much more to other people

than just these guys. We have a huge responsibility to decide where we're

going to take it. From the Games point of view, what I want to do is

really bring it back to London in 2019, provided that the support is

there for the guys. If the public want to come out and support these

guys and fill bigger stadiums, let's do that. Let's send it off in a

massive way. Then work out what we're going to do. Wherever you're

going to take it, you've changed so many people's lives. It's impacted

hugely on loads of people. So I'm sure there's so many athletes and

competitors out there who are grateful. So much to do. Busy, busy.

We're looking out for you in the athletics of course. And Rio for

you. This is a journey. Yeah, definitely. Rio is one of those

things, competing definitely. Rio is one of those

Paralympics, it's just the most amazing thing you can do.

Paralympics, it's just the most you wake newspaper hospital and your

legs are gone, you've got to have a crack. You think, I can't look back

on life and not have at least tried. That's the same for anyone with

disability. You're in an elite group and you can go for. You have a good

chance of doing what so pane people will never have a chance to do.

Best of luck. Thanks guys. Thank you.

Now what happens when you put 500 injured servicemen

We sent former Royal Marine and Invictus competitor JJ Chalmers

to find out how everyone was getting on at the athletes' hotel.

Welcome to Shades Of Green. For the next week this will be where the

athletes will live under one roof. It is great, you have the

competitive spirit. It is a nice vibe and it's nice to get to know

some of the other competitors. To be back with their military is

something I miss. It is amazing. How are you finding the place? Not

joking, there are alligators around here. You don't want to lose a leg.

I will feed them might prosthesis. Who are the people to beat? The US

team. We are here and we need to beat the US. United Kingdom and the

USA. America. Who are you here to beat? We want to win a medal in

archery. We can field the British breathing down the back of our

necks. It is a good friendly rivalry and the Kiwis had better look out,

we are coming. I hate Australians with a passion. We cannot believe

how much I hate them. I have spoken to a lot of people today. I have

asked them who they want to beat and I have two level with you, it is the

Americans. How do you feel about that? We have the home nation

advantage, of course they want to beat us. We wanted it to be you guys

when we were in London. We have sacrificed for our countries and we

are here to represent our own countries, so we are here for the

same purpose. Has to be the Brits. It looks fun, but they mean

business. A band has struck up behind us. Let's get on with it.

Here's how the sporting week lines up: In a moment, all the action

Tomorrow we'll have all the highlights from the athletics,

On Wednesday, we're off to the pool for swimming and the first

of the team sports launches with sitting volleyball.

And on Thursday we'll be serving up a new sport to the Invictus Games -

that's wheelchair tennis, and we'll see the return

of wheelchair rugby, and Prince Harry's promised to get

back in a chair for an exhibition match.

On Friday we'll be rounding up the week with wheelchair basketball,

and we're all hoping for a US versus UK rematch of the 2014 final

and a chance to beat the US on their home turf.

As a nation, we have a history of doing very well in competitive

cycling and Invictus is no exception.

Let's meet two of the competitors Jaco van Gass and Mike Westwell -

I have always wanted a career in the military. Coming from South Africa,

I sold everything I had and six months later I joined the Army, and

never looked back. About 40 minutes into the firefight, two RPG 's were

that point the rocket made an that point the rocket made an

impact. I didn't feel beyond that. It was my leg. I was trying to lift

my rifle to the correct firing position and I realised I had lost

my left arm. From an early age I was in the Air Cadets and the RAF was

the natural process. I was in flying operations over Afghanistan. We had

turbulence which led to a neck injury. It resulted in me eventually

losing my career. As part of my rehabilitation I used cycling. I

could just get out there, there is no restrictions. Just let everything

melt away. I almost do feel able bodied on the bike. I am able to

handle my bike like anyone else. It gives you a reason to get up in the

morning and when it is hammering it down with rain, you get out there on

your bike and do some training. For me, Invictus is admission. Invictus

gives you something to focus on. Mental preparation on the start line

is key to success. I am always quite nervous before a race. Lots of

emotions going on. I sometimes get quite intimidated even by just a

kid. I looked at the bikes, the wheels and the equipment. As soon as

the gun goes, I am in the game and that is me focused. I ride my race.

Thanks to the RAF for letting Jaco and Mike chase their Typhoon

The cycling got under way at 8am in the slightly

safer surroundings of the road just behind us.

Chris Mitchell and Jon Allan Butterworth followed all the action.

Rob Cromey-Hawke, a former captain in the Royal Engineers, had his game

face on. He was here to defend his 2014 title and set off into the

distance. The time trials are lonely, but Rob, badly injured in

Afghanistan is a Yorkshireman and knows how to win. Paul Vice, a

Afghanistan is a Yorkshireman and former corporal in the Marines was a

man on a mission. After missing out on a medal in 2014, he pushed

himself fast. He has had his left leg amputated since the left games

but his spirit and speed were not affected. He was back at base with a

silver. With Michael Matthews coming home third, it was a GB one, two,

three. Having won the gold medals in 2014 in London, it was great to have

a UK team dominating the podium again and hopefully set a bit of

fear into the rest of the competition for the road race. It is

great for me. I have lost my leg since the last Invictus Games, I'd

just missed out on a medal since the last Invictus Games, I'd

last Invictus. In the time Traveller came fourth, jumped up to second. I

am chuffed to bits. Michael Westwell was want, making his debut, he took

gold in the class three road bike time trial. The Florida sun was

beating down all day and Jacko fan gas started as favourite for the

class two race and he showed us why he is a future Paralympic hopeful.

Riding with the he is a future Paralympic hopeful.

key was fast and first. A former corporal with the Royal Engineers,

gave it everything but finished just behind his team-mate. Just wanted to

beat Jacko fan gas. I am happy. It felt slow, but I was surprised about

the time. It is great being here. Fantastic atmosphere. The sun is out

and all our family and friends are here. The USA had a clean sweep in

the women's. Andrew Kelsey of Great Britain getting a gold medal to

boot. A lot more action on the road. Have a look out at these guys coming

up. Let's rejoin the action with Chris. It was the same cast for the

men's recumbent road race, Paul Vice, who doesn't know the meaning

of the words give up. He is a man who has completed four tours of

Afghanistan and two in Iraq. Awarded a military Cross, this was a great

race. In 2014, you might remember these two cross the line holding

hands. But there was to be no Disney ending this time. Hawke held on to

take the gold. Jaco Van Gass was cooking at the start of his race but

Craig Priest would hold him back. Craig Preece is in front at the end

am plotted his revenge well. Andrew Kelsey, who served in the RAF got

off to a flying start in his race and never looked back. Gold for him

also. Great Britain were brothers in arms for the final race. But there

was no love lost at the end as Michael Westwell and Michael Parry

were overtaken by Nathan Jones on the last bend, only for Jones to

crash. Gifting the gold medal to Andrew Perry, with Michael Westwell

taking the silver. There were Andrew Perry, with Michael Westwell

Coming in off the back straight we were in a good position.

Coming in off the back straight we Me and Mike chased him down. We

dropped everybody else. Unfortunately I think he was dying

on the last corner, got a fixation on the fence. We were quite lucky

all others, not to end on floor. Give everything to him, he did a

very good race and we work well as a team. We thought it would be a hard

ring to do, to work as a team, but we were constantly chatting to each

other, saying, chill out. Wait, wait. It worked well. We did the

best we could achieve in that situation.

John Allen but has joined us. Let's meet some of the medallist, Jaco Van

Gass with a gold and silver. Paul Vice with the silver and Michael

Matthews with the bronze medal. Congratulations. Lovely to have you

here. Give us an idea of the Congratulations. Lovely to have you

of pride you felt when he picked up your medals? Great sense of pride.

of pride you felt when he picked up GB ruled the cycling this

We cleaned up. We worked really hard for it. Fantastic. The clinking when

you coming in, it is a good sound? It is a great sound and having

self-induced pressure having won the two gold

self-induced pressure having won the expectations to try to defend them

and it was great to work expectations to try to defend them

Vice again. But we expectations to try to defend them

be crossing the line together this expectations to try to defend them

more work? I have three other sports over the next two days, so no rest.

I have got the track tomorrow. Then followed by volleyball and swimming.

Take your medals and your good luck back into the hotel and

Take your medals and your good luck that success, hopefully. Thank you

so much to everybody, all our guests. We're back tomorrow at seven

o'clock and the business of sport is underway with athletics, rowing and

archery and we will keep an eye on this man in the powerlifting. I

joined the Army when I was 17. It was the only job I ever had. I was

fully committed soldier and I was the only job I ever had. I was

have done my full time. You are working hard and playing hard and I

miss it to this day. One of the roles in Afghanistan was to find the

IED blowing up the guys. It was dangerous. Most of the lads over

there are keeping away from these things and it is our job to go and

find them. It was red-hot, as it always is in Afghanistan in the

summer. We were on patrol and I stood on a pressure plate IED. I

felt the impact go through my feet and out of my head and I knew I was

in a bad way. Before I opened my eyes I just prayed there would be

some sort of legs and feet. I look down and saw my left leg was gone.

But visually my right leg was smashed up in as many places as a

leg could be smashed up. I knew I was in big trouble from bleeding. I

had three major wounds that were bleeding out and I could see the

ground changing colour in front of me. I try hard not to think about it

but it is definitely a picture I am never going to forget. There is no

doubt things change when you look down in a hospital bed and see your

legs have gone. I never went unconscious during the whole thing,

so I knew my legs were gone. I didn't even look under the duvet.

Sport does give you a reason to get up out of bed. Doing powerlifting

started giving me a sense of getting back to the guy I was. From the very

start, I wasn't thinking about Invictus Games, just thinking about

getting a bit stronger. You are on medication and eating rubbish. Sport

can do that, and it did for me. The Invictus Games, it is about building

your lives are getting back from dark places. It is also about

computing and competing hard. I go there to win. We annihilated the

Americans last time. They went back and they will have been licking

their wounds and training hard to make sure we don't do that in their

own backyard. But guess what, they are not going to get any medals from

powerlifting. Paul has shared with me

something about the moment when his friend died and he held him

in his arms in Afghanistan. TEARFULLY: And I feel a duty,

frankly...