Harry hails power of sport as Invictus champion thanks him for ‘saving my life’
The Duke of Sussex has travelled to Japan from his home in California, ahead of the Sentebale ISPS Handa Polo Cup in Singapore at the weekend.
The Duke of Sussex has shared his belief that sport has the power to heal the world as he joined a summit in Tokyo.
Harry took part in an onstage discussion at the ISPS Sports Values Summit in the Japanese capital on Wednesday to raise awareness for the Sentebale charity he co-founded.
The duke, who moved from the UK to the US in 2020 after stepping down as a senior working royal, praised Japan’s “unique” and “very special” culture, adding: “I would happily live here if you’d have me.”
He also met students from the Stellenbosch University Choir from South Africa, who performed at the summit.
Urging the singers to “keep spreading the love”, Harry embraced them after asking for a group hug.
The choir’s musical director Andre van der Merwe told him: “Thank you that you have spent so much time with us. For such an icon, so modest. Oh my word.”
Harry, who travelled without his wife the Duchess of Sussex and their children Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet, joined panellists to discuss the power of sports, community and philanthropy.
He stressed the importance of teamwork, saying sport required having “a dream” and the “need for community”.
“Sport requires having a dream and the need for community. Whether banded together in victory or showing up with respect in loss, no-one ever crosses a finish line or scores a goal without the help and belief of others.
“The lessons we learn on the field are often the same principles of philanthropy; that a mission, hard work, dedication, and partnership can make even the impossible, possible.
He was accompanied by his long-time friend, Argentinian polo player Nacho Figueras, who will also take to the polo field at the weekend, captaining the Singapore Polo Club against Harry’s Royal Salute Sentebale team.
Australian navy veteran and Invictus Games gold medal winner Steve James thanked the duke for saving his life.
Mr James, who was injured during a fall at sea and left with chronic pain, neurological issues and mental health challenges, said: “I needed Invictus, to teach me a very different approach to sport, it’s enabling, it helps pain go away…
“I would like to thank Prince Harry for saving my life.”
He competes in athletics, wheelchair basketball, indoor rowing and wheelchair rugby and won gold in the discus at the Invictus Games The Hague in 2022.
