Toronto heat wave doesn’t deter Invictus Games fans

Sep 26, 2017 | Sports

Kirk Hughes and Cornelia Oosthuizen (R) of Britain celebrate defeating Australia to win their wheelchair bronze medal tennis match during the Invictus Games in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, September 25, 2017. REUTERS/Mark Blinch

By: Jason Ramroop, Wrence Trinidad and Daniel Caudle

The recent heat wave hasn’t stopped spectators from cheering on their favorite athletes at the Invictus games being held in Toronto this week.

Bringing in 550 competitors from 17 nations and featuring 12 events, the Invictus Games are being held in Toronto for this first time since they were founded in 2014 by Prince Henry of Wales.

Featuring paralympic style events, the games are held annually with the competitors being sick, wounded, and veteran army personnel. The name of the event derives from Latin and means unconquered, or undefeated, which is very fitting as that is what the spirit of the games are all about.

“Time and time again, competitors from around the world tell me that sport has saved them; that the Invictus games have given them a new lease of life; and that to represent their country again with fellow comrades is something they could only have dreamt of while lying in the hospital,” said Prince Harry.

Events featured include track and field, cycling, gold, indoor rowing, powerlifting, swimming, wheel chair rugby and other olympic style events.

The games are being held from sept. 23 to the 30th throughout the GTA at venues such as the York Lions centre, High Park, Fort York and the Toronto Pan Am Centre. After the games successful launch 1500 volunteers signed up to help out at the different venues.

The closing ceremonies will feature a variety of international artists, most notably Bruce Springsteen and Bryan Adams.

First held in Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park in 2014, the event then moved across to North America and was held at ESPN Wide World of Sports in Orlando, Florida in 2016 before coming to Toronto for 2017. The next Invictus games will be held in Sydney, Australia next year.