By Jamie White – Head of Communications
The first ever Invictus Games has been hailed as a huge success by competitors, organisers and main sponsor Jaguar Land Rover.
The international sporting event, which was championed by Prince Harry and presented by Jaguar Land Rover, saw Servicemen and women from 13 nations join together and compete across four days of inspirational sport.
At Sunday’s Jaguar Land Rover Invictus Games Closing Concert, two special awards were presented to Invictus competitors Joe Townsend and Maurice Manuel.
Townsend lifted The Jaguar Award for Exceptional Performance, having followed up his four gold medals at Wednesday’s athletics with silver and bronze in hand cycling on Saturday. Townsend, who has previously cycled 3,000 miles across the USA, was presented with his award by Team Sky cyclist Ian Stannard and Olympic rower Katherine Grainger.
Denmark’s Maurice Manuel was named the Land Rover Unconquerable Soul for going above and beyond, in his commitment to the Games. Captaining and coaching Denmark’s wheelchair basketball team to bronze, he also won silver in the javelin, bronze in the Ambulant IT1 200m and bronze in wheelchair rugby.
Dr Ralf Speth, Chief Executive Officer of Jaguar Land Rover, said: “The Invictus Games have delivered four thrilling days of competition and further demonstrated the power of sport in recovery. The Games have demonstrated the potential of wounded, injured and sick Service personnel and once again highlighted the valuable role that veterans could play as skilled employees.
“With the Games now over, our work to leave a lasting legacy will now take centre stage. Jaguar Land Rover will continue to work closely with the Royal Foundation and the Ministry of Defence to explore innovative ways of enhancing the employment prospects of ex-Service personnel moving into civilian life, including those who are wounded, injured or sick.”
The Games saw more than 400 wounded, injured and sick Servicemen and women, from 13 nations, compete at Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park and the Lee Valley Athletics Centre, thanks to the Mayor of London, the London Legacy Development Corporation and the Lee Valley Regional Park Authority.
