Harry arrived in the city of The Hague on Friday accompanied by his wife Meghan, for their first public appearance since their decision to step back from the royal family two and a half years ago.
“Your courage and your choice to come and be here cannot be overstated,” the prince told the Ukrainian team from a boomerang-shaped stage.
The team told the prince the day before that they had come "on this world stage, not just to show our strength but to speak our truth," said Harry.
Present on stage, Meghan also expressed her support for the Ukrainian team.
"Slava Ukrainiani!"
(Glory to Ukraine!) she launched.
More than 500 attendees
Also present, Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte also expressed his support for the Ukrainian team by opening the ceremony, which received a standing ovation from the public.
More than 500 participants from more than 16 nations are taking part in the event, which has been postponed twice due to the Covid-19 pandemic, and is due to end on April 22.
Ukrainian representatives
Nineteen people will represent Ukraine, invaded by Russia since February 24, but the team mourned the death of at least four former participants and team members, as well as the absence of a participant, according to its members imprisoned in Mariupol.
Created by Harry, who served in the British Army in Afghanistan, the Invictus Games is an international sporting event for wounded and disabled soldiers and war veterans.
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