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Next Invictus Games to take place in Florida, Prince Harry says

By Marilyn Malara
Prince Harry greets British wounded warriors during a reception at the British Ambassador's Residence in Washington, D.C. on May 7, 2012. He announced this week that the 2nd annual Invictus Games will take place in Orlando, FL. Photo by Kevin Dietsch/UPI
1 of 3 | Prince Harry greets British wounded warriors during a reception at the British Ambassador's Residence in Washington, D.C. on May 7, 2012. He announced this week that the 2nd annual Invictus Games will take place in Orlando, FL. Photo by Kevin Dietsch/UPI | License Photo

LONDON, July 14 (UPI) -- Prince Harry's Invictus Games will be held in Orlando, Fla., next summer, the royal announced via video message Tuesday.

The second annual Invictus Games will take place at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex in Orlando, just minutes from Disney World parks and resorts.

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"For me, the 2014 Games were just the beginning of the Invictus story, I wanted other cities and countries to look at the competition, what it meant to those taking part and those who saw it, and take up the challenge for the next Invictus Games," the royal said.

"I am absolutely delighted to announce that the United States has taken up that challenge and will host the next Invictus Games in Orlando, Florida from the 8th to the 12th of May, 2016. I have no doubt that Ken Fisher and his team will set the bar even higher than London did, and that the USA will put on a great show."

"No pressure," he added with a smile.

Fisher, the president of the 2016 Invictus Games Organizing Committee, added: "Sport and exercise are important to the health and healing of our wounded warriors. We are honored the Invictus Games is coming to the United States. The competitors, their families and caregivers are all inspirations and each of their stories is a testament to courage, love and perseverance," in an accompanying statement.

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The games, a competition for injured military men and women, were launched in 2014 by the prince, who reportedly joked at the time that the U.S. equivalent, the Warrior Games, was "such a good idea by the Americans that it had to be stolen."

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