RPAYC Helps Launch Invictus Games
Most members will have seen some great footage of their Club conducting the Invictus Games Launch on Sydney Harbour.
The day started with the Official Launch at Admiralty House, 500 days ahead of the opening of the 2018 Sydney Invictus Games
and 108 days until competition begins for the 2017 Toronto Games. In attendance was the 2017 Australian Invictus Games Squad,
their friends, family and other supporters. RPAYC General Manager Suzanne Davies was invited to represent the RPAYC at this
event in recognition of the Club’s contributions to the day. The Master of Ceremonies for the event was Lieutenant General Peter
Leahy, Chairman of the Invictus Games and he introduced the speakers, the Governor General Sir Peter Cosgrove, His Royal
Highness Prince Harry, Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull and NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian.
The heavy rain often obscured the spectacular harbour views from the marquee on the lawn where the ceremony was conducted,
but a fortunate break in the weather allowed the speakers to be clearly heard over the faint, protective buzz of choppers in the
sky. All speakers referenced the terror attacks both in the UK and Melbourne in the week prior which underlined the importance
of the roles and sacrifices of many of those in the room.
Prince Harry’s speech was heartfelt and moving. He spoke of the catalyst for the Games being the moment he was forced to
leave his fellow soldiers on the front line in Afghanistan in 2008 after his presence there was leaked. While he realised that to
remain would have endangered his company, the guilt he felt was overwhelming. The flight he departed Afghanistan on carried
the body of a Danish soldier and other badly injured soldiers and he reported that this was the moment he knew he had to do
something for these people to help them and thus the Invictus Games were born.
On launching the Games, Prince Harry said; “Sydney will soon be the custodian of the Invictus spirit and the focus for hundreds
of men and women using the Invictus Games to motivate their recovery from physical and mental injuries. “I know that people
across the country – from Perth to Sydney, from Darwin to Adelaide – will embrace the Invictus Games and show their support for
competitors from their local towns and right across the country. I have no doubt that the Sydney public will make these games
their own.”
It was Gladys Berejiklian who announced that sailing would be included in the Invictus Games for the first time in Sydney! As the
event broke for a morning tea with the Prince, the dock of the Royal Sydney Yacht Squadron was a buzz with RPAYC and RSYS
representatives and veterans preparing to head out in the wet and blustery conditions to conduct the sailing demonstration.
The event was executed by RPAYC Club Coach Tom Spithill who had worked tirelessly in recent weeks ensuring plans were in
place, the boats were ready, volunteers engaged and veterans prepared to race. With everything in check it was game on! RPAYC
Race Officer and Vietnam Veteran Ted Anderson was in charge of the day’s racing and with the assistance of David West and
Sue Anderson they trained up a number of veterans who, while they were unable to participate by sailing, enjoyed learning to
participate in the race management activities.