- Key roles at international sporting event for 'wounded warriors', championed by Prince Harry
- Training programme includes former Games Makers from the London Olympics and Paralympics
- Video of ex‑servicemen reciting the Invictus poem released in support of the Invictus Games
- Tickets now available for the Games, taking place in London, September 10 to 14
Whitley, UK. 150 Jaguar Land Rover employees will have the opportunity to work as volunteers supporting the Invictus Games, the international sports event for 'wounded warriors' championed by Prince Harry. They will make up a quarter of the 600 volunteers helping to run the Games, with others coming from the armed services and event sponsors. Jaguar Land Rover is the Presenting Partner of the Invictus Games, which take place between September 10 and 14 at venues made famous by the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
"The company has been inspired by the vision for the Invictus Games, and we wanted to give some of our colleagues the chance to help deliver them," says Simon Lenton, Human Resources Director of Jaguar Land Rover. "This will be a life‑enhancing experience for the volunteers. Their reasons for applying range from personal and family involvement in the armed forces to their own experience of sport's power to help recovery from illness or injury."
At the Games, the volunteers will be assisting competitors from the 14 participating nations, their families and friends, and thousands of spectators. Their training programme will include coaching from former Games Makers from the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games, selected by London 2012 legacy charity Join In.
Video of inspiring Invictus poem
Jaguar Land Rover has released a specially commissioned video in support of the Invictus Games, which was used to help recruit the company volunteers. It is now on You Tube: http://youtu.be/FaAHBtlkTfs,
or http://youtu.be/r1uRgDtD3QA.
The short film is based around the stirring 'Invictus' poem which gives the Games its title, and features potential Invictus Games competitors and two ex‑servicemen working in organisations supported by Jaguar Land Rover: Capstar Chauffeurs, which is based in London, and Race2Recovery, the first disability team to complete the Dakar Rally, the world's toughest motor sport event.
Games tickets now on‑sale
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. They 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 event will feature nine adaptive sports at the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park and Lee Valley Athletics Centre. Jaguar Land Rover, the Presenting Partner, will be organising a competitive driving challenge. BT, PwC and YESSS Electrical are Official Supporters of the Invictus Games.
Tickets for the Invictus Games cost £12.85 per person, per session and are on sale at www.invictusgames.org.
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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.
For further information please contact:
Sarah Jenkins, Jaguar Land Rover Invictus Games Communications: sarah.jenkins@fasttrackagency.com, +44 (0)7766 366351
James Ralph, Jaguar Land Rover Invictus Games Communications: jralph@goodrelations.co.uk, +44 (0)7889 002 305
Anna Jackson, Press Officer, Jaguar UK: ajackso1@jaguarlandrover.com, +44 (0)7736 912717
Kim Palmer, PR Manager, Land Rover UK: kpalmer@jaguarlandrover.com, + 44(0)7795 666169
Invictus Games
The nine adaptive sports at the Invictus Games are Archery, Athletics, Wheelchair Basketball, Road Cycling, Powerlifting, Indoor Rowing, Wheelchair Rugby, Swimming, and Sitting Volleyball. Jaguar Land Rover, the Presenting Partner, will be organising a competitive Driving Challenge.
Teams have been invited from Afghanistan, Australia, Canada, Denmark, Estonia, France, Germany, Georgia, Iraq, Italy, Netherlands, New Zealand, UK & USA.
Capstar Chauffeurs
Capstar Chauffeurs is a premium chauffeur company employing former servicemen and women from the British Armed Forces, and uses Jaguar Land Rover vehicles. The company is built around core military values: integrity, loyalty, trust and discipline. These qualities ensure Capstar provides an unequalled standard of chauffeur experience to corporate and private clients in London and the South East.
Capstar is the first commercial venture of its kind to actively train and recruit former servicemen and women who have been wounded, providing employment in an industry where an injured soldier can compete on equal terms. Our mission is to inspire ex‑service personnel who are injured, disabled or facing adversity, providing them with a new career and a certain future.
Race2Recovery
Race2Recovery embodies the spirit and determination of injured servicemen and women to overcome their injuries and achieve the extraordinary. Sponsored by Land Rover and the Endeavour Fund, Race2Recovery overcame the challenges of the world's hardest rally in 2013 and 2014 to set new records as the first ever predominantly disabled team to conquer the 6,000 mile Dakar Rally. During their incredible challenge to overcome adversity, they succeeded in raising over £260,000 for Help for Heroes and the Tedworth House Recovery Centre, which provides recovery care and training to injured service personnel, including many potential Invictus athletes.