Invictus Games The Hague 2020 - Day 4

Day 5: Wednesday April 20

The Prime Minister of the Netherlands, the Minister of Defense and a world famous football coach. Hundreds of school children and newborn soldiers. Everyone and everything showed up at the Invictus Games Park on Wednesday. But, and that’s the best part, from the start of the day in indoor rowing to the end of the evening in wheelchair rugby, the participants are the most important of all.

Competitors

Competitors

Vicky Ross (Team UK)

Vicky Ross (Team UK)

After four minutes of rowing, she’s crashed out on the floor at the Sports campus. But Victoria ‘Vicky’ Ross won the gold medal in the IR6 category. Despite the win she states they were the ‘worst four minutes of her life’. “Do you know that back home I’d rather put the rowing machine on its side in the shed? In fact, it’s no fun at all, I hate it.”
Catalin Olteanu (Team Romania)

Catalin Olteanu (Team Romania)

At first, he was afraid that playing sports would have a negative impact on his tattered body, but now playing sports makes it more bearable to cope with the injuries. Two years the Romanian Catalin Olteanu trained hard to be able to participate at the Invictus Games 2022.
Kim Yoonkun (Team Korea)

Kim Yoonkun (Team Korea)

He is not only the oldest participant in the South Korean team, but from all participants in this edition of the Invictus Games. At the age of 73, Kim Yoonkun participates in handbiking. And although he realizes that the chance is small that he succeeds, he will go for gold.

Family & Friends

Family & Friends

Camilla (USA)

Camilla (USA)

Because of all the school she would be missing, she initially did not plan on going to The Hague. Then she realized it would be a once in a lifetime opportunity. When her sister’s work prevented her from making the trip, Camilla decided to join her mother and fly from Iowa to The Netherlands. Camilla’s father is competing in the Invictus Games. Read Camilla her story here!
Justyne & Karolina Michalewicz

Justyne & Karolina Michalewicz

Justyne Michalewicz and her daughter Karolina traveled from Poland to follow their husband and father and to cheer for him from the stands. At the same time the games for them are an extraordinary experience as well. “It’s wonderful to meet people who all have similar experiences with someone in their family,” Karolina says.
Guus Hiddink

Guus Hiddink

The South Korean-team at the Invictus Games received an unexpected visit on Wednesday morning. In the Nations Home, the Dutch footballcoach Guus Hiddink waited for them. In 2001 and 2002, Guus was national coach of the South Korean footballteam and reached unprecedented results with this team at the World Cup.

At the park

At the park

Prime Minister Mark Rutte

Prime Minister Mark Rutte

It wasn’t that things were quiet at the Sportcampus, because during the indoor rowing competition at the Invictus Games it’s a verbal pandemonium. But when there was a moment of quietness, you could hear his name being whispered. After all, the students who were present all know who he is. And tried to grab his attention by calling his name: Mark Rutte, Mark Rutte! The prime minister smiled but did not let it distract him.
A yellow bench

A yellow bench

A yellow bench. A simple yellow bench. It is all the rage during this edition of the Invictus Games. Because of its symbolic value. Because of the wonderful conversations had on it. If it is up to the organisers of the Invictus Games The Hague, the yellow bench will conquer the world. And the news is encouraging. While the Invictus Games are still ongoing, the idea has been embraced worldwide. The yellow bench will be the legacy of this year’s Invictus Games.