Prince Harry cheers on Invictus Games 2016 hopefuls

Prince Harry has met athletes who will be competing at the 2016 Invictus Games in Orlando in May. The prince cheered on the hopefuls during the team's UK trials at the University of Bath Sports Training Village.

The international multisport event for wounded, injured and sick service personnel will take place in Orlando, between 8-12 May at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex. Prince Harry is the royal patron of the games, currently in its second year.

Harry, 31, told the athletes to "enjoy" the games by making the most of it and spread the word. He said that the excitement about the games was building everywhere.

"The excitement is building not just here but also across the pond. You will be unbelievably amazed by the amount of support there is out there for you," he said, according to Kensington Palace.

"You are now or will be ambassadors for the Invictus shirt, and the Invictus spirit. Wherever you go and whatever you do, spread the word. The most important thing is enjoy it, make the most of it and spread the word and appreciate how much support there is out there."

Following his visit to the Warrior Games in the USA in 2013, Prince Harry led the launch of the Invictus Games to motivate many servicemen and women suffering from life-changing injuries to not be defined by their injuries.

The first Invictus Games took place in London in 2014. The Paralympic-style event features various sports including wheelchair basketball, sitting volleyball and indoor rowing.

During the 2016 games, a policy symposium will also take place in partnership with the George W Bush Institute. The symposium will address invisible wounds of war and the role of sports in the recovery of wounded, injured and sick servicemen and women, the Invictus Games Orlando 2016 Organising Committee said. They announced that former US president will serve as its honorary chair.

"I have dedicated the rest of my life to honoring the service and sacrifice of the men and women with whom I served as commander-in-chief. Those who wear their nation's uniform, some of whom have been overcome both visible and invisible injuries, deserve our support," George W Bush said.