Team UK receive celebrity well wishes as team fly to Canada for Invictus Games
Sixty-two athletes from Team UK have departed for Canada as stars from the world of sport and television sent their well wishes ahead of the Vancouver-Whistler Invictus Games.
The team, which is made up of wounded, injured and sick Armed Forces personnel and veterans, departed from Birmingham Airport on Thursday ahead of them representing the nation with the support of the Royal British Legion and the Ministry of Defence.
On their departure, the athletes received good luck messages from famous faces in the world of sport, including Olympic and Paralympic Champions Ellie Simmonds, Katherine Grainger and Mark Foster.
Television personalities also sent their well wishes, including Match of the Day presenters Gabby Logan and Mark Chapman, actors and broadcasters Ross Kemp and Stephen Fry and This Morning host Ben Shephard.
In a good luck message to the athletes, Gabby Logan said: "Good luck to Team UK at the Invictus Games.
"You will have an amazing time, and I'm sure you'll have loads of fun and personal success and triumph too."
Stephen Fry added: "Just sending a message of huge admiration and enthusiasm to all you athletes out there, simply staggering the work you're doing, the training, the preparation and I wish you all fantastic success and I hope you have a great time in Canada.
"We'll be following you, lots of love."
Team UK will be joining 500 other competitors from 23 nations for the Vancouver-Whistler games where they will be competing in 11 adaptive sports, including winter sports for the first time in the game's history.
The team’s flight from Birmingham Airport was provided by AirTanker, who will provide Team UK an airbridge between the UK and the games in Vancouver-Whistler.
Defence Secretary John Healey joined in wishing Team UK good luck ahead of the games.
He said: "I wish Team UK the very best of luck competing at the Invictus Games in Canada over the next two weeks.
"The games powerfully show us the bravery of our forces and the way sport can support the recovery of sick and injured military personnel.
"We're proud of these fierce British competitors and the government will always stand by those who serve our country, both during and after service.
"I know the Armed Forces community will be cheering them on from around the world."
The opening ceremony will take place on 8 February and is set to be headlined by Coldplay's Chris Martin, alongside Katy Perry, Noah Kahan, Nelly Furtado and Rozane Bruneau.
The 2025 Invictus Games will run from 8-16 February.
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