Rhubarb

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11 St Edward’s r hubarb
An all-access experience at the Invictus Games
Tristan Mackie (C, 2012-2014)
After leaving Teddies last summer, I started
an incredible three-month journey helping
to organise the Invictus Games. The Games
featured 400 wounded, injured and sick
service personnel from 14 countries, each
competing in nine adaptive sports. I worked
alongside the main management team as a
runner, delivering messages, including a full
week delivering messages to HRH Prince
Harry. I also supported the organisation of
the closing ceremony, sourcing award givers
to present medals to the British team.
Every competitor is awarded a medal for
taking part in the competition, each presented
to them by a competitor from another
nation, but for our home team, we arranged
something a little different. Each service man
or woman competing was presented their
medal by someone who was involved in saving
their lives during combat, or worked with
them during their rehabilitation. I worked
alongside the BBC using battle reports to track
down the medical officers who saved lives on
the front line. One competitor was presented
a medallion by the medic who stopped him
bleeding to death when his leg was badly
injured. It was amazing to reunite them,
knowing the incredibly unique bond they share.
The experience of reuniting service heroes
with the heroes who saved and improved their
lives was a life-changing process. I spoke to
an ex-service man who had suffered the loss
of both his legs, one of his arms, and had a
severely injured other arm, who told me that
the track events in which he had competed
had changed his life. After being part of the
Games I have come to realise how much
people’s lives are turned upside down through
the injuries obtained during combat, which
change their identities as service personnel
as they come to terms with the fact that they
can no longer serve in that role. It wasn’t
just their lives in which the Games inspired
positive change, but the lives of those who
viewed the competition when it was televised.
We received a call from someone suffering a
life-threatening illness, who had witnessed the
courage and strength of those competing in
the Games, and decided to fight their illness.
After the Games commenced I was given
an all-access pass to the events, and managed
to watch the final of the Wheelchair Rugby,
GB versus the USA. I have never sat and
watched a sporting event with such energy
and electricity. Noise and cheering were
pouring out from the supporters – no matter
who was winning! It seemed that the sport
itself was momentarily forgotten, and people
wanted to cheer on the players in support of
their new challenge which had given them a
completely new chance in life.
Recently I was contacted to see if I would
be interested in working at the next Invictus
Games, due to take place about a year and a
half from now. I have no idea what I will be
doing in my life then, but of course, I said yes!
Tristian Mackie, third from the right, with HRH Price Harrry and volunteers at the Invictus Games
f e a t u r e s