72 competitors have been selected to represent the UK at the Invictus Games Sydney 2018, presented by Jaguar Land Rover.
The competitors gathered for a special presentation at London’s Horse Guards Parade and were joined by Prime Minister Theresa May, who posed with the competitors for the first official team photograph and wished them luck for the Games.
The competitors – 64 percent of whom are new to the Invictus Games – were also joined by former Team UK captains, including Paralympic Bronze medallist Dave Henson.
451 wounded, injured and ill military personnel and veterans trailed for one of the 72 positions on the team. The rigorous selection process for Team UK was based on the benefit the Invictus Games will give an individual as part of their recovery, combined with performance and commitment to training.
The 2018 UK Team captain was also named this morning as Mark “Dot” Perkins, who takes over the mantle from 2017 captain, Bernie Broad.
Former Royal Signals Corporal Perkins was discharged in 2005 and now works as a civil servant, rehabilitating injured soldiers. He will compete in cycling and rowing.
“There are few moments in one’s life when an event occurs that truly transforms your life, the Invictus Games is it,” said Corporal Perkins.
“They empower us all to fight the chains of physical disability, to fight the intangible burden of mental illness and they empower us to focus on being the best we can be despite the scars that we all now wear.
“Whilst participating in the Games, our scars are like medals that we can proudly display rather than hide in shame or embarrassment.
“[The] Invictus [Games] allows us to be judged on what we can achieve, rather than what we can’t. To simply be selected for Team UK was an amazing achievement. To then be further selected as the Captain and to represent these incredibly brave men and women is extremely humbling, it is a huge privilege to be given this honour,” he said.
The team will continue to train from now until October in various locations across the UK as part of Help for Heroes’ extensive Sports Recovery program.
Jayne Kavanagh, of Help for Heroes and Chef de Mission for Team UK, said the Invictus Games competitors were an inspiration to the entire community.
“[The] Invictus [Games] is a powerful demonstration of the dedication these men and women displayed when they served our country,” said Ms Kavanagh.
“It is a celebration of how they confronted hardship but refused to be defined by injury or illness and they all deserve the chance to proudly serve their country once more.
“They have the opportunity to not only continue their own recovery, but to inspire others with their resilience, passion, courage and optimism,” she said.
Team UK is being supported by Jaguar Land Rover with Help for Heroes delivering and training the team.