A few years ago, Prince Harry came to America and spent a few days witnessing the American Warrior Games, which are athletic competitions for wounded military men and women. Harry loved the Warrior Games so much that he wanted to bring a version of it to the UK, and he spent months and months bringing it together. Last fall, Harry launched the Invictus Games to widespread acclaim, and Harry has said since then that one of his biggest causes and interests as a full-time royal would be to do once-every-two-years Invictus Games and further work with wounded warriors.
So it’s no surprise that Harry has announced the second Invictus Games – once he gets back from his summer in Africa, he will probably be working full-time in London, putting together the second games. The second games will be held in… Orlando, Florida? Harry’s coming to Florida?! Here’s his announcement:
Prince Harry is delighted to announce that @Invictusorlando will host the next #InvictusGames
https://t.co/OTpEmq3h8r
— Kensington Palace (@KensingtonRoyal) July 14, 2015
Here’s what I don’t really understand: is the American team organizing this on our own, or will Harry still be overseeing it? Will Harry just focus on bringing Team GB to Florida? So many questions.
Meanwhile, Harry has been in Namibia for the past two weeks. He’s spending the summer working on conservation and anti-poaching efforts, although Harry has faced some criticism from Namibian politicians. Apparently, it’s legal to hunt big game and even endangered species if Namibia issues you a license… a license that can cost hundreds of thousands of dollars. Anyway, some Namibian politicians were bitching about Harry, saying that his trip was likely just an exercise in PR and one columnist referred to the trip as “an adventure holiday. He or his visit will not save one single rhino. Sad but true.”
Photos courtesy of WENN.
he is amazing for us! great job with the millitary
Gah! Right in my backyard!
Mine, too. But, if the games are held during the broiling heat, fuggedaboudit.
Me, too! I live in Orlando. Harry’s coming! Harry’s coming!
Great news – well done Hazza!
So, he wants to make this a international event, via Olympics. If it can be accomplished, so be it. Hope he succeeds.
Go Harry! Well done and such a good idea.
Regarding the Namibia story. I rather Harry try anyway to pressure the government into changing their policies on giving out licenses to the rich to kill rhinos. That is the oppotunity of being a royal-brining attention to causes. I would rather have him attempt even a loss cause while vacationing than go off to some tropic island and do nothing but sunbath and drink fruity umbrella drinks. I’m sure when his Mom started trying to bring attention to land mines or kids with HIV no one took her serious or thought her cause will go anywhere. I have a feeling Harry is as stubborn and committed as was Diana.
Exactly. I read the Fail’s piece in the links and it is still unclear what the Namibian official was specifically complaining about, and neither does he suggest a better alternative. Sounds like someone is peeved that attention is being shone on practices (e.g. handing out licenses to kill the rhinos provided you can pay the exorbitant sums) which the public would find objectionable.
Having lived & worked in Southern Africa the hunting issue combined with white expats telling countries what to do — not ideal. I support conservation but ground up policies tend to work best. And everyone needs to understand that white hunters are a huge revenue source. It’s compicated. What his mother did with HIV – cuddling babies! – and land mines – I think those were different types of causes. And Harry’s work with wounded military – amazing. I think Orlando is brilliant as it is a place that can host huge numbers of tourists reasonably – what better way to get the word out? I’d love to take my kids to see a game or two.
What his mother did with HIV and land mines was an impossible task. We live in a more enlightened and educated times so it seems ridiculous that we would shun AIDS suffers and not have a care for land mines.
When she spoke about landmines, the British government branded her a loose cannon that needed to be reined in. She had a lot of opposition worldwide. Not just the leaders of mined countries.
Her impact on AIDS has diminished with time, but it was seen very much worse than ebola. Her daring to touch an AIDS patient was extremely radical.
If Harry can have half the impact she had, he would have accomplished something amazing.
I can understand how African officials would be sensitive to Westerners trying to dictate or influence national policy, considering the history of western influence and involvement in Africa. The Namibian government, however, has no problem taking those Westerners money. I wonder how much of that money goes to the benefit of the Namibian people and how much goes to line the pockets of the government bureaucrats. I’m guessing they don’t want any light shone on their money making ventures.
Go for it, Harry!
Right on, Julie.
I’m so excited. I live in Orlando and I can’t believe he’s coming here.
Of course the people making loads of money off of hunting, including hunting of endangered animals, are going to be pissed off at any effort that might cut into their money-making schemes.
As for them calling Harry’s time in Africa a ‘vacation’ is their way of insulting and belittling what Harry is doing, imo. He’s not at fancy resorts laying by the pool. He’s actually working and living in the field in tents, eating food off of camp fires, and actively getting involved in what the already-embedded conservationist are doing.
……………..
I posted a link yesterday of the DM’s article on what Harry is doing in Africa. In Namibia, he’s flying in copters with a team headed up by a renowned veterinarian who came up with the strategy to cut off the much sought after horns of the endangered black rhinos while keeping them still alive as well as collecting DNA samples for further research. Apparently the poachers have been killing thousands of black rhinos every year when taking the horns, which are sold for pseudo-medical uses.
Before Namibia, he was in Tanzania studying/working with conservationists involved in trying to save elephants. In Tanzania, there’s a game reserve known as the ‘elephant killing field.’
Next, he’s going to Botswana to do more of his study/work activities.
……….
I’m glad Harry is keeping busy and that he has planned a work schedule for himself. I think it’s great that he got involved in setting up a UK version of the Invictus Games and will be involved in bringing UK participants to the US games.
At least he has work on his mind. He’s not going around telling reporters that he doesn’t understand what it means to work by using his position and influence. Good for him.
anne: As I said on the other thread yesterday, I hope Harry loudly condemns the practice of Big Game trophy hunting, otherwise it’s all for nought.
Poaching is despicable, but gunning down these beautiful animals for profit is equally so.
Come on Harry, you can do it!
little tricky for him, considering his brother apparently hunts.
teacakes: I’d like to think that Harry has inherited that “loose cannon” gene, where he’ll have the courage to speak up for the right thing and to hell with the consequences. (Like Diana, with her campaign against landmines.)
He has been known to hunt Big Game in the past though, so who knows.
When I was a kid in the 80s, one of the most effective conservation methods was to de-horn all the wild animals with horns. Elephants, Rhinos, etc.
It was a policy that was accepted across southern Africa. I remember having afew reservations about the de-horning programme because the animals actually use their horns for practical purposes. However, better de-horned than poached.
Fast forward 30yrs later and I was surprised to learn the policy had been discontinued. However, the poaching had also decreased and animals could grow old without fear of being de-horned or poached.
It’s sickening that an entire animal is killed for it’s horn. Why can’t they simply de-horn them without damaging them or killing them?
Is it a coincidence that poaching at industrial scale was revived after the Chinese moved into Africa and have bought up all the African countries with horned animals??
No coincidence there, LAK. The Chinese have managed to circumvent international law by means of false fronts and subterfuge. Interestingly, the WWF headed by Prince Philip has focused on Vietnam rather than China as the primary culprit, when clearly China is still the world’s biggest consumer of rhino horn and ivory, which gives me pause for thought.
Also, the sceptic in me wonders whether the dehorning/detusking practice was discontinued to appease Big Game hunters’ demands for a more “aesthetic” experience.
Two words: YAY HARRY!!!!!!
Honking for Harry!! 😀
Can we keep him? 😉
Time to book a flight to Orlando…….;)
Countdown to the photo of Harry at Walt Disney World surrounded by all the Disney theme park princesses. He’ll hate that but it will give many of us a laugh and boost awareness. This will be at the ESPN sports complex, which means there’s hope the Games will be televised on ESPN or ESPN2.
He really does take his role seriously, doesn’t it? I think it’s wonderful, and like a few people said above, if he can have half the impact his mother did, then he has done amazingly well, so good on him for taking on controversial issues…
On a pure gossip note: I wonder what Granny thinks about the difference in work ethic between her two grandsons?
Wouldn’t you just love to be a fly on Granny’s wall. Your Majesty, what do you really think?