From the Year 4 reporters – Invictus Games
The Invictus Games is like a paralympics for injured veterans. People who have served in the army and have become injured or sick have the choice to enroll in the Invictus Games where they compete in many different sports from wheelchair basketball to indoor rowing. It is not only physical disabilities that lead to veterans competing. Many participants have been through traumatic experiences and have mental disabilities which lead them to compete.
The Invictus Games started as a small idea and now there are 18 countries that compete in it. These competitors are drawn from around the world. The Invictus Games has been around since 2014 and has been going strong since. The next Invictus Games will be in the Netherlands.
Prince Harry decided to start this event because he fought in the war in Afghanistan. He fought for over ten weeks but an Australian magazine found out and published the news. Since it was revealed where Prince Harry was, he was pulled out for security reasons.
In Latin, the word Invictus means undefeated, invincible and unconquerable. The Invictus Games brings hope to retired veterans and their families’ lives. Prince Harry founded the Invictus Games because he saw war veterans suffering and he decided to do something about it.
There are usual sports, like swimming and archery. However, there are more unusual sports like sitting volleyball, where you have to be seated at all times. Other sports are wheelchair rugby, wheelchair basketball and wheelchair tennis.
Person of the week
Sarah Petchell came first place in women’s IP3 powerlifting. She also came 3rd in the IR6 1 minute sprint. She is an amazing woman. Powerlifting has made a big change in her life and allowed her to build her muscles and shoulder joints. Her injury is spinal pain, a shoulder tear, chronic pain in her feet and instability in her ankles. Despite these injuries, she still did very well in the Games.
Book of the week
The book of the week is I am Malala. This book is an informative autobiography about Malala Yousafzai’s life and events that happened to her at 15 years of age, when the Taliban was ruling.
By K-6 gifted and Talented students, Amelie Mueller, Jessica Smith, Noa Rosenzveig and Jamie Nabarro