As I watched Heart of Invictus one of the most impressive parts of the Invictus Games is how much preparation goes into it for the veterans. There’s a whole Invictus program led by an Invictus team on the ground in each country, and the men and women are not only training for their sports, they’re doing group therapy sessions, individual therapy sessions and building friendships and foundations post-military career. I’ve wondered for weeks now if Nigeria’s Defense Department invited the Sussexes to Nigeria as part of a larger effort, by the Nigerian government, to convince Harry to expand Invictus in the country. That’s something I also caught in Heart of Invictus – the program is so popular and doing such great work, many countries want an expansion of Invictus and for the program to take in more competitors. Nigeria, I feel, is working a smart angle. As it turns out, Nigeria already had plans in place to build a new rehab center for veterans, and Prince Harry got a good look at the plans.
Prince Harry has “goosebumps.” That’s because he was shown the design for a groundbreaking new center that takes his worldwide help for veterans to a new level.
The tranquil-looking facility, which is proposed for Abuja, Nigeria, will provide a haven of physical and mental rehabilitation for wounded service personnel, the center’s architect and the Nigerian armed forces hope.
The Duke of Sussex, 39, spoke with awe about the proposed center when computer-generated images were shown during a reception held by the Chief of Defense Staff General Christopher Musa while Prince Harry and Meghan Markle were visiting Nigeria earlier this month. In his address to the party — where he and Meghan, 42, were given gifts of traditional clothing, entertained by dancers and heard from Nigerian veterans — Harry said service personnel not being “defined by their injuries” was a growing belief among the wounded.
“And that is what the new center you’re building is all about. Seeing the plans for the new Invictus Centre gives me goosebumps,” he told the reception. Prince Harry added that the Nigerian team had been a welcome addition to his Paralympic-style games. He said they “represented their service and this country, extraordinarily — won medals and came back with smiles on their faces.”
I have questions about funding and who does what in these kinds of situations. Clearly, Nigeria has high hopes to build this facility, but would it be in conjunction with Invictus? Would Invictus help fund the center? Would Invictus competitors get to train there? Were they asking for Harry’s blessing or something more? Given the worldwide acclaim of Invictus and the fact that Invictus is cosigned by defense departments and NATO, how long can Invictus keep its relatively small footprint? It feels like there’s absolutely room to grow on a country-by-country basis, and it also feels like there are several countries pressuring Invictus to expand.
Photos courtesy of Getty.
Harry, we’re always behind you and Meghan in any of your endeavors. Keep trying to make the world a little better place to live in💕
I’m glad Harry got to see the plans and was happy they are doing this for the veterans. It does seem more countries want Invictus and that is great.
To answer Kaisers questions. I think the centre would be funded by The defence department of Nigeria. I am certain of that. It is quite localised, so I don’t think they are expecting Invictus International to cough up. Nigeria has money.
And Nigeria has resources too, really good resources. Nigeria is among the group of largest oil producers in the world, so it’s a wealthy country and they do have the means and resources. I’m certain the defense ministry is working closely with the central govt on this, no way they would have pulled off such a successful visit and reception without the Nigerian central govt input and/or involvement. And I’m equally convinced that the central govt is very invested in and is willing to allocate funds to build this facility and take this Invictus Games thing to a whole new level in their own country. And, if their vets are involved, this could be a win win for everyone, so I am really excited to see where Nigeria will take this.
And in terms of countries wanting more IG expansion, from what I recall, it was said that Harry intended to have 4 Invictus Games, 1st one in the UK, then US, then Canada and come back to the UK to close it off and move on to other things. He never even imagined this would get bigger and get legs of its own and go to places he could never have imagined; he is a blessed man. And I believe that’s what’s sticking in the BRF and BM throats; that Harry the Spare’s IG is a legacy that no one in the history of the BRF has ever done anything like. William AND Charles must be eating their hearts out with jealousy. I mean, both the King’s Trust and the Earths!t (both organizations started and funded by a Heir and/or Prince of Wales) can’t even start to compare even if you put the 2 of them together. And it probably will be hundreds of years in the future before anyone in that goddammed family would ever do anything that matches IG. That’s if the BRF monarchy still stands as it is today.
I just say go Harry go.
I’m thinking the country pays for it through the defense apartment. Invictus and Harry give it recognition to lobby for that govt money. That said, there may be additional streams of money that goes towards it?
It is a beautiful and peaceful looking facility. I would think that if it’s for veterans that it would come out of a military or veterans budget and maybe is following an invictus rehab program/plan for the facility wether it’s with invictus oversight is hard to know but I would think some of it might be if they use Invictus in the name. I hope to see it built and funded, every country should do more for its veterans.
My guess is that the Government of Nigeria would be funding the construction of the facility. That’s how it usually goes especially in commonwealth countries in the Global South.
The idea behind Invictus is awesome, for the lack of a better word.
Not only does the organisation provide mental support to help heal the physical pain, in addition to rehabilitation, it also fosters a sense of belonging, togetherness for the wounded vets and their families.
And it’s a huge networking event too.
The competitors, or rather, participants who qualify can bring two family members along to the games – which takes a huge financial burden off those families and makes it easier to pay for another child to come along, as the teams’ quarters are in the host country’s barracks or similar styled accommodations, buildings akin to Olympic villages where the families stay in apartments, so only have to pay for travel.
When we went to Düsseldorf last year, we witnessed a very professionally run event, with much room for spontaneity and a very warm and welcoming atmosphere.
I really can’t praise this enough and am happy to see new developments like Winter adaptive sports.
But at the same time Invictus sadly can’t grow too much bigger, because they simply don’t have the financial means to have hosts create new accommodation and infrastructure, unlike the Olympics.
People may remember the “assembly” video from last year, where German brigades put together the venue inside an existing structure in a handful of days.
So I get why Harry had goosebumps in Nigeria. Invictus is his idea, modelled after the Warrior Games, but on an international level, and to see it thrive and blossom like this must be phenomenal and overwhelming.
Nanea, Harry has also said that if the IG was bigger it would run for over a week. It didn’t sound like that was something they are presently prepared for. It certainly could be the cost and making sure they had enough money for that. The more competitors there are, the costs definitely add up.
I keep hoping that IG will get big enough that media in the countries like the US, Canada, Germany, etc., will televise it. IG would gain advertising dollars. It could happen.
Love you, King Harry and Queen Meghan!
I wish they were, Britain would be a more compassionate and nicer place.