The event, which took place at the YESSS headquarters in Normanton, West Yorkshire, saw a team from YESSS take on a team of wounded, injured and sick Servicemen and women hoping to compete in the inaugural Invictus Games presented by Jaguar Land Rover in London on 10th-14th September – an international sporting event championed by Prince Harry.
The YESSS team were joined by players from local Rugby League club Featherstone Rovers and veterans, who came together to help take on the Invictus sitting volleyball challenge.
The event was opened by the sounds of the Ensemble of the Band of the Royal Corps of Signals and was attended by Sir Keith Mills, chairman of the Invictus Games, and deputy chair of the London 2012 Organising Committee and the Lord Mayor of Wakefield, councillor Sandra Pickin.
Andy Singleton, one of the founding directors of YESSS said, ‘Today’s event has been fantastic, we wanted to host one of the adaptive sports event that will be part of the Invictus Games to give individuals the chance to try out the sport and appreciate how sport can inspire recovery and support rehabilitation for wounded, injured and sick Service personnel.
‘I’m delighted with the support the event has received, from local sports clubs to our very own staff. We’re fully behind the Invictus Games and want to be much more than just a passive supporter and what better way to do this than by actually giving one of the sports a go and learning from the experts.’
The Games will see more than 400 competitors from 14 nations compete in nine adaptive sports including sitting volleyball from 10th-14th September in Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park and the Lee Valley Athletics Centre.
Also on the programme will be athletics, archery, wheelchair basketball, road cycling, indoor rowing, wheelchair rugby, swimming and a driving challenge presented by Jaguar Land Rover. Teams will be invited from the armed forces of 14 nations that have served alongside each other, with relative newcomers to adaptive sport joining advanced athletes in an inclusive programme.
The Royal Foundation of The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and Prince Harry, in partnership with the Ministry of Defence, launched the Invictus Games, presented by Jaguar Land Rover, earlier this year.
Tickets for the Invictus Games are currently on sale at www.invictusgames.org/ticket-info and cost £12.85 per person.
