Prince Harry meets veterans at Aquatic Centre in Olympic Park

PRINCE Harry took a boat ride up the Parramatta River today to check out the venues for next year’s Invictus Games for wounded veterans in Sydney.

PRINCE Harry took a boat ride up the Parramatta River today to check out the venues for next year’s Invictus Games for wounded veterans in Sydney.

At the Aquatic Centre in Olympic Park he met veterans who will be part of the Australian swim team travelling to compete in Toronto later in the year.

Prince Harry. Picture: Toby Zerna

Prince Harry visits the aquatic centre: Toby Zerna

David Neagle, 39, who served in East Timor, met the prince at Aquatic Centre and said the Prince was very excited about holding the Games in Sydney’s 2000 Olympic Games venues.

“This was the venue where we had these amazing swimmers setting incredible records and it will be great to have the Invictus Games here.

Prince Harry visits the aquatic centre at Sydney Olympic Park. Picture: Toby Zerna

“I am no Ian Thorpe but I am in training and will have a red hot crack at it,” he said.

Prince Harry is in Sydney for the launch of the Invictus Games in Sydney in October 2018, which will see 500 wounded, injured and sick veterans from 18 countries come to compete in a range of sports.

Prince Harry meets with members of the public

Sarah Sliwka, 33, who served in the Signals Regiment, met the Prince during the Australian team’s final training session before the team for the Toronto Games is selected at the weekend.

“He asked how the training was going. He is very generous and is completely focused on the athletes, you can tell he really believes in the Games,” she said.

Prince Harry had lunch in the Novotel restaurant overlooking Olympic Park at Homebush with Invictus Games officials including CEO Patrick Kidd before his police motorcade headed to the airport.

Originally published as Prince Harry meets veterans at Aquatic Centre in Olympic Park