Jaguar Land Rover Presents British Team For The Invictus Games

• Jaguar Land Rover is proud to be supporting the 130‑strong British Armed Forces team competing in the Invictus Games
• The Invictus Games, championed by Prince Harry and presented by Jaguar Land Rover, is an international sporting event for wounded, injured and sick Servicemen and women taking place in London from 10‑14 September 2014.
• Jaguar Land Rover is Presenting Partner of the 2014 Invictus Games and is committed to exploring ways to enhance the valuable role of veterans as skilled employees, as a way of creating a lasting legacy for the Games.

London, UK, Wednesday 13^th August 2014 ‑ Jaguar Land Rover today presented the 130‑strong British team heading for the Invictus Games, the new international sporting event for wounded warriors.

The biggest ever British military sports team for wounded, injured and sick Servicemen and women gathered today for the first time, following three months of extensive training and selection trials.

The British Armed Forces team, supported by Jaguar Land Rover, will compete against 13 nations in nine sports and a competitive driving challenge when the Games begin in London next month.  The team, which has been trained and supported by Help for Heroes and the Ministry of Defence, is made up of veterans and serving members of the Armed Forces.

Dave Henson, who today was announced as the British Armed Forces team captain and lost his legs in an IED explosion in Afghanistan, said: "When I was injured I thought that was it, my life was over. The confidence boost that sport gave me was huge and to be selected as part of the British team for the Invictus Games is a huge honour. I really hope both the British public really get behind the Games and come and support us in person. It's going to be a truly inspirational event."

Daniel Whittingham, a below‑the‑knee amputee who has been selected for the British Armed Forces team, said: "After finishing the Dakar rally last year with Race2Recovery, which was an extraordinary feat of endurance against all odds, I was keen to explore further ways to focus my recovery. Having the chance to compete with other servicemen and women who have been through similar hardships and who have come out on top despite all odds, is a massive personal honour.

"For me and indeed all the competitors, there has been so much effort behind the scenes, not just training for the Games but also in adjusting to daily life with our disabilities. I am proud to represent the British team and look forward to the Games in September."

The Invictus Games are being organised with the support and backing of The Royal Foundation of The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and Prince Harry and the Ministry of Defence. It will see more than 400 wounded, injured and sick Servicemen and women, serving and veteran, competing in Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park and the Lee Valley Athletics Centre, thanks to the Mayor of London, the London Legacy Development Corporation and the Lee Valley Regional Park Authority.

Dr Ralf Speth, Chief Executive Officer of Jaguar Land Rover, said: "Jaguar Land Rover is immensely proud to be enabling the Invictus Games and supporting the British Armed Forces team.  We have been inspired by the passion with which Prince Harry has championed this visionary idea, to celebrate the commitment and achievements of wounded, injured and sick Service personnel.  In addition, we're exploring with the Royal Foundation and the Ministry of Defence innovative ways of enhancing their employment prospects and those of other Service personnel when moving into civilian life, to create a lasting legacy from the Games."

Mark Cameron, Global Brand Experience Director of Jaguar Land Rover, today congratulated those who have been selected. He said: "Jaguar Land Rover is honoured to be supporting the British Armed Forces team at the Invictus Games. Having worked hard in both their recovery and training, all those named in today's team should take great pride in their selection. We look forward to watching them go for gold in September."

Tickets for the Invictus Games cost £12.85 per person, per session and are on sale at www.invictusgames.org.

ENDS.
For further information log onto www.media.jaguarlandrover.com or contact:

Sarah Jenkins, Jaguar Land Rover Invictus Games Communications: sarah.jenkins@fasttrackagency.com,+44 (0)7766 366351

Paul Garbett, Jaguar Land Rover Invictus Games Communications:
paul.garbett@fasttrackagency.com,+44 (0)7718 340555

Kim Palmer, Land Rover UK PR:
kpalmer@jaguarlandrover.com, +44 (0)2476 564129

Anna Jackson, Jaguar UK PR:
ajackso1@jaguarlandrover.com, +44 (0)2476 564115

Video content available:

For download of all content captured from the British Armed Forces Team announcement, including event B‑Roll, interviews and edited web packages, please visit the Digital News Agency via this link: http://www.digitalnewsagency.com/stories/8575

All content is free to download and use without restrictions.

For more information and support please contact Daniel Sayles or Moira Kan:

Editor's Note:

Jaguar Land Rover

Jaguar Land Rover is the UK's largest premium automotive manufacturing business, built around two iconic British car brands. All its vehicles are engineered and designed in Britain.  While it has ambitious plans for global growth, the heart of the business remains in the UK, with billions of pounds invested in state‑of‑the‑art production, research and development facilities.   In 2013, Jaguar Land Rover sold 425,006 vehicles ‑ up 19% from the previous year ‑ in more than 170 countries.   The company employs 30,000 people globally. 

About the Invictus Games

Launched by Prince Harry earlier this year, the Invictus Games will use the power of sport to inspire recovery, support rehabilitation and generate a wider understanding and respect of those who serve their country. The nine adaptive sports to feature at the Invictus Games are: Archery, Athletics, Wheelchair Basketball, Road Cycling, Powerlifting, Indoor Rowing, Wheelchair Rugby, Swimming and Sitting Volleyball.  Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park will host events in the iconic London Aquatics Centre, Copper Box Arena, Lee Valley VeloPark and Here East, with athletics running at Lee Valley Athletics Centre.  Teams have been invited from Afghanistan, Australia, Canada, Denmark, Estonia, France, Germany, Georgia, Iraq, Italy, Netherlands, New Zealand, the UK and USA.

Jaguar Land Rover is the Presenting Partner of the Invictus Games. BT, Fisher House, Ottobock, PwC and YESSS Electrical are Official Supporters.