Entertainers and dignitaries led by Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, officially kicked off the 2025 Invictus Games in British Columbia on Saturday in a star-studded opening ceremony.

The kickoff event at Vancouver91裸聊视频檚 BC Place Stadium featured artists Katy Perry, Roxane Bruneau, Noah Kahan, Nelly Furtado and Coldplay91裸聊视频檚 Chris Martin, with the prince and his wife Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex, seen clapping and singing along to the performances.

But Prince Harry said in his opening speech that the Games are meant to place the focus more on the competitors 91裸聊视频� wounded military veterans 91裸聊视频� who embody courage, resilience and leadership in setting an example for the rest of the world.

91裸聊视频淵our leadership did not end when you stepped off the battlefield or took off the uniform,91裸聊视频� he said, eliciting tears from some visibly moved competitors.

Prince Harry founded the Games in 2014 for wounded, injured or sick service personnel and veterans.

Up to 550 athletes from 23 nations are taking part in 11 adaptive sports in Whistler and Vancouver, with several of the events taking place in the same venues that hosted the 2010 Olympic Games.

Four host nation chiefs entered the stadium to the beat of drums Saturday afternoon, holding raised paddles 91裸聊视频� a traditional sign of welcome for strangers arriving on the shores of Coast Salish Indigenous communities.

The athletes parade began with Germany, which hosted the games in 2023 in Duesseldorf, and ended with Team Canada whose members wore matching blue and black flannel shirts.

The stadium was transformed into what organizers called a 91裸聊视频渟ea of blue,91裸聊视频� which represented the Pacific coastline, with blue banners and flags waving along the floor as audience members held up blue pompoms. A balloon humpback whale and silver dolphins flew over the crowd.

Dignitaries in attendance included Mary Simon, the Governor General of Canada, and B.C. Premier David Eby, who took a moment to mention the current political climate between Canada and the United States, where President Donald Trump has threatened tariffs on Canadian products and said he wants Canada to become the 51st state.

"Beyond any differences, here at the Invictus Games we are grounded in mutual respect, competing fiercely, but believing in one another. Supporting one another. And rooting for one another."

Listen to our Patron, The Duke of Sussex's full speech from the Opening Ceremony of the91裸聊视频�

91裸聊视频� Invictus Games Foundation 馃挍馃枻 (@WeAreInvictus)

Eby addressed Team USA directly, noting that Canadian soldiers 91裸聊视频渉ave fought and died and cried and celebrated beside Americans for generations,91裸聊视频� and he said that Canadians will always be there for the U.S.

91裸聊视频淎nd you know what, if we ever need you, and it came down to it, I know you91裸聊视频檇 be there in a second. God bless USA. God bless Canada,91裸聊视频� Eby told the crowd.

This year is the first time the Games will feature winter sports, including the skeleton, skiing events and wheelchair curling, alongside indoor rowing, sitting volleyball, swimming, wheelchair rugby and wheelchair basketball events as it has previously.

Event producer Patrick Roberge said that the four First Nations co-hosting the Games represent the 91裸聊视频渟hared healing journey of Indigenous Peoples in Canada.91裸聊视频�

Gabrille Hack was among the attendees who filed into BC Place ahead of the opening ceremony. She said her mother was volunteering at the event and got her tickets.

91裸聊视频淪eeing people in their military outfits and everything 91裸聊视频� I think it91裸聊视频檚 just such a unique atmosphere,91裸聊视频� Hack said in an interview before the ceremony, adding that watching the music artists live was another major draw.

That sentiment was shared by fellow ceremony-goer Gina Behnke. The Germany-native said Kahan was the main reason she wanted to attend.

91裸聊视频淣oah Kahan is my favourite artist and tickets for his concerts are really expensive, so this was a chance to see him, even if it91裸聊视频檚 just for one song,91裸聊视频� Behnke said outside the stadium.

But Kahan performed two of his hits for the crowd, including 91裸聊视频淣orthern Attitude91裸聊视频� and 91裸聊视频淪tick Season.91裸聊视频�

Addressing the athletes, Kahan called them inspiring.

91裸聊视频淚t91裸聊视频檚 one of those things we91裸聊视频檒l remember forever,91裸聊视频� he said. 91裸聊视频淲e91裸聊视频檒l remember the bravery in this room. The openness with your struggles inspires us all.91裸聊视频�

Canadian singer-songwriter Nelly Furtado, who was the first headliner to take the stage, performed a medley of 91裸聊视频淪pirit Indestructible,91裸聊视频� 91裸聊视频淧romiscuous,91裸聊视频� 91裸聊视频淚91裸聊视频檓 Like a Bird,91裸聊视频� 91裸聊视频淭urn Off the Light91裸聊视频� and 91裸聊视频淧owerless.91裸聊视频� She was joined by guests music producer Mattmac and dance group Ill Abilities.

Francophone singer Roxane Bruneau performed songs 91裸聊视频淛91裸聊视频檖as stress茅e91裸聊视频� and 91裸聊视频溍� ma mani猫re,91裸聊视频� performing alongside the 80-person Invictus Games Dance Corp.

Chris Martin of Coldplay performed the Invictus Anthem live for the first time. The song, which he penned for the first Games in London in 2014, has formed the basis of medal ceremonies for all Invictus Games. He completed his set by playing Coldplay hits 91裸聊视频淗igher Power91裸聊视频� and 91裸聊视频淰iva La Vida.91裸聊视频�

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As the final chorus of 91裸聊视频淰iva La Vida91裸聊视频� rang out, the video panned to the singing crowd, pausing briefly on Prince Harry and his wife Meghan, who could be seen taking part.

American pop star Katy Perry closed the show with a medley of 91裸聊视频淩oar,91裸聊视频� 91裸聊视频淒ark Horse,91裸聊视频� 91裸聊视频淧art of Me,91裸聊视频� 91裸聊视频淟ifetimes91裸聊视频� and 91裸聊视频淔irework91裸聊视频� to a rapturous crowd.

Grace Pachmann, a longtime fan of the singer, said seeing her live was 91裸聊视频渁 dream come true91裸聊视频� and the entire event was 91裸聊视频渞eally inspiring.91裸聊视频�

91裸聊视频淚t was very heartwarming (and) very emotional. It was really cool to see so many different stories and so many people coming together from bunch of different countries, and I really enjoyed it.91裸聊视频�

This year marks the seventh Games and the second time they have been held in Canada. Toronto previously acted as host in 2017.

Prince Harry and Meghan are expected to be in attendance throughout the Games.

Last year, the pair attended training camp in B.C., where the prince tried out sit-skiing and skeleton in Whistler before heading to Vancouver to try wheelchair curling alongside Canadian singer Michael Bubl茅.

After the ceremony ended, Prince Harry headed down the street to Rogers Arena, where he performed the ceremonial puck drop before the Vancouver Canucks91裸聊视频� game against the Toronto Maple Leafs.

The Games run until Feb. 16, and will conclude with a closing ceremony at Vancouver91裸聊视频檚 Rogers Arena that will feature artists including country singer Jelly Roll and Canadian rock band Barenaked Ladies.

Brieanna Charlebois, The Canadian Press