Prince Harry, Michelle Obama kick off the Invictus Games in Orlando

Michelle Obama, Prince Harry, and the children of a service member participating in the Invictus Games.
(Image credit: Chris Jackson/Getty Images)

The Invictus Games, an international sporting competition for injured veterans, kicked off Sunday night in Orlando with an opening ceremony featuring its founder, Prince Harry.

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"Mark my words," he told the crowd during the ceremony. "You will be inspired, you will be moved, and you will be entertained.
" He was joined by George W. Bush, Morgan Freeman, and First Lady Michelle Obama, who said that over the past five years, she has had the "privilege" of meeting several of the athletes. "I am so incredibly inspired by all of you," she said. "I am inspired by your courage, your love of country, the sacrifices you all make every day."

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About 500 competitors from 14 countries are participating in 10 events, including archery, powerlifting, and wheelchair rugby, ABC News reports. The games will air on ESPN2 and ESPN3 through May 12.

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Catherine Garcia, The Week US

Catherine Garcia has worked as a senior writer at The Week since 2014. Her writing and reporting have appeared in Entertainment Weekly, The New York Times, Wirecutter, NBC News and "The Book of Jezebel," among others. She's a graduate of the University of Redlands and the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism.