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Ahead of Saturday’s opening of the Invictus Games in Toronto, Canada, where Jaguar Land Rover Team is competing, having been in Toronto earlier for preparations, Jaguar Land Rover has kickstarted a programme to celebrate the valuable support of friends and family of the Invictus Games competitors.
Billed as the world biggest international adaptive sporting event for wounded, ill and injured servicemen, servicewomen and veterans, the 2017 Invictus Games events include archery, athletics, cycling, indoor rowing, the Jaguar Land Rover Driving Challenge, powerlifting, sitting volleyball, swimming, wheelchair basketball, wheelchair rugby, wheelchair tennis, and, for 2017, golf.
A special livery featuring personal messages of thanks from competitors to all those who support them has been designed for the lead vehicle of the Invictus Games National Flag Tour. The special livery was unveiled on the final leg of the tour, and its arrival into the host city, Toronto.
The sporting competition, which starts this weekend, is for wounded, injured and sick (WIS) service personnel and veterans and was first held in the UK in 2014 as a way of helping active duty and veteran military personnel heal both physically and mentally.
To accompany the bespoke vehicle that will be used during the Games, Jaguar Land Rover has created a short film to showcase the important role of loved ones in the rehabilitation journey. The release of the film coincides with Jaguar Land Rover’s announcement as Presenting Partner to the Invictus Games 2018 in Sydney, Australia.
Australian competitor and former soldier Stewart Sherman, who played tennis at last year’s event in Orlando, is not only preparing for Toronto but planning to be part of next year’s Driving Challenge when the Invictus Games are held in Australia.
A veteran of both Afghanistan and the Solomon Islands, Stewart has been fighting “the invisible injury,” Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), since returning home.
“Luckily, I found sport through the Invictus Games and it changed everything for me. It means so much and helped turn me around. Really, it’s been the experience that’s changed my life.
“Coming together with other people who have been through exactly the same things means we can talk about it openly. It’s helped resolve so many things, ” he said.
Mark Cameron, Global Experiential Marketing Director at Jaguar Land Rover said: “We have witnessed the difference the Games have made to people’s rehabilitation and we want to continue to inspire, support and encourage injured, sick and wounded military personnel. Jaguar Land Rover is incredibly proud to commit its support to the Invictus Games for another year.”
Chairman of the Invictus Games Sydney 2018 Lieutenant General Peter Leahy, said; “Jaguar Land Rover are an integral part of the Invictus Games story, having been a global partner since the inaugural Games in 2014. By carrying their support through to Invictus Games Sydney 2018, Jaguar Land Rover will play a vital role in helping the wider Australian community understand the true impact of service. By showcasing the healing power of sport, we hope to inspire the Australian community to embrace our serving personnel, veterans and their supportive family and friends.”
The Invictus Games
The Invictus Games uses the power of sport to inspire recovery, support rehabilitation and generate a wider understanding and respect for wounded, injured and sick Servicemen, servicewomen and veterans.
Participation rates have grown dramatically with competitor numbers up from 400 at the first Games to more than 550 in Toronto. Country representation is also up, from 13 to 17.
The Jaguar Land Rover Driving Challenge
One of the competitions to take place at the Invictus Games Toronto is the Driving Challenge featuring Jaguar and Land Rover vehicles in both on and off-road car control exercises.
The sporty Jaguar F-TYPEs guarantee speed and handling precision for the tough slalom challenge course featuring ’Jaguar Smart Cones’ to create an unpredictable, constantly-changing track layout to increase driver difficulty.
Land Rover Discoverys are used on a daunting urban driving course with tracks designed to test both driving and navigational skills.
The Jaguar Land Rover Driving Challenge provides the first medals of the Invictus Games Toronto 2017 and will take place on Saturday, September 23.
