'Sydney it's on': Prince Harry tells Australia to 'bring it' for the 2018 Invictus Games
Prince Harry has urged Australia to ‘bring it’ in his teaser to the 2018 Invictus Games, with a bit of help from Kylie Minogue.
Harry grins in the footage during his big announcement, just days after his stern directive to the media to ease off his girlfriend Meghan Markle following rumours of their relationship.
Speaking of the games, Harry said there was three key criteria when selecting a city to host.
“First, it had to be an iconic city – somewhere known the world over,” he said.
'Bring it Australia': Prince Harry has announced the Invictus Games will be in Sydney in 2018.
“Second, it needed to be a city with a proud military heritage, which would welcome competitors from all over the world with open arms.
“And finally, we wanted to go somewhere where they are absolutely sports mad and would really get behind our competitors.”
He felt Sydney was the ideal city to host the games in 2018.
The international sports competition for wounded veterans will see more than 500 athletes from 17 countries will take part, with events to be held on and around the harbour and at Sydney Olympic Park.
Bringing the games to the Emerald City was an easy decision, Prince Harry said.
The British royal made the announcement on Saturday in a video message filmed at Australia House in London featuring popstar Kylie Minogue, Wallabies captain Stephen Moore and several Australian Defence Force (ADF) members.
Prince Harry said the games coming to Sydney was an easy decision.
The games' Sydney ambassador, Paralympic gold medallist Curtis McGrath, said the event was particularly significant for his friends and family.
"The people that are right next to you going through the rehabilitation, helping you into your wheelchair... having them included in this amazing event is also very important and it's great to have them along," he said.
The 28-year-old, who was injured by an improvised explosive device in Afghanistan in 2012, competed in the last two Invictus Games in London and Orlando, Florida.
"I've used the power of sport to help give me a purpose, give me goals so I can achieve things later on in life after my injury," he said.
Kylie Minogue helped Prince Harry with his announcement video.
It's likely Sydney-siders will get a glimpse of Prince Harry, who's attended the last two games.
Next year's event will take place in Toronto, Canada, where the royal bachelor's American girlfriend Meghan Markle resides.
The 2018 games in Sydney will run between October 18 and 29.
