Miia Martinson-Ollesh together with members of the Estonian team
The strong sun warmed the crowds as thousands of spectators waited to enter Walt Disney World’s ESPN Wide World of Sports for the second annual Invictus Games opening ceremony. Gates opened at 6pm and by dusk the program began with the Invictus Fanfare performed by the U.S. Army Herald Trumpets. The U.S. Army Concert Band played the National Anthem ending with a flyover by the “The Blue Blasters”, the U.S. Navy Strike Fighter Squadron 34 from Virginia Beach, Va. The U.S. Army Old Guard Fife and Drum Corps sounded bugles and percussions, honoring the Continental Army, and just like the Olympic Games, the parade of nations began. 14 nations, including Estonia, were introduced and flags carried by local JROTC members from Liberty High School were followed by the wounded soldiers who would compete in adaptive sporting games.
The Invictus Games 2016, held in Orlando, Florida, is an international sporting competition for wounded soldiers and the games opened on Sunday, May 8, 2016. Honoring and celebrating the servicemen and women for their valor, the raising of the Invictus Games flag symbolized the opening of the games in the most exciting way. A HH-60 Pave Hawk from the 920th Rescue Wing, Patrick Air Force Base, flew over Champion Stadium and as the helicopter hovered, SSgt August O’Niell with the Invcitus flag in his satchel was lowered to the ground, meeting his service dog Kai. Entering the stadium, the flag was raised and the games began.
Performances by Laura Wright, James Blunt, U.S. Silent Drill Platoon, Flesh and Blood, a choir of wounded, injured and sick ex-servicemen and women from the UK and US Armed Forces, filled the evening before introducing HRH Prince Henry of Wales, First Lady Michelle Obama and Academy Award-winning actor Morgan Freeman. Messages of gratitude to servicemen, women, veterans and their families moved the audience, as did the words of courage and pain from wounds inside and out from MSgt Israel “DT” Del Toro Jr., JJ Chalmers and Louse Nethercott.
In true Disney style, the ceremonies ended with a grand finale of amazing fireworks and a performance from the Center for American Military Music Opportunities. The finale of the ceremony was the beginning of four days touted to “be a fantastic showcase of competition, camaraderie and the very best of the human spirit”.
Ergo Mets (center) won two gold medals in his category. 13 Estonian team members came back with total of 9 medals. Photo: Delfi/Eesti Päevaleht
The Opening Ceremony, competitions and the Closing Ceremony on Thursday, May 12 were aired on ESPN channels. Among 10 sports with 485 competitors, 410 medals were awarded. Estonia won 10 medals. The games included 1,008 attending friends and families, 13 support dogs, 836 volunteers and 55,886 spectators. The next Invictus Games will be in Toronto, Canada in September 2017.
Miia Martinson-Ollesh
