It was short notice but 46-year-old David Innes was thrilled to be North Bay’s flag bearer as part of the Invictus Games National Flag Tour which arrived in North Bay on Monday afternoon at CFB North Bay.
Innes, who was injured more than 25 years ago in a training accident at CFB Gagetown, is not competing in the games but he believes the Invictus athletes are an inspiration for many.
The Invictus Games use the power of adaptive sport to help wounded warriors on their journey to recovery; the games will take place in Toronto from September 23rd to September 30th.
“I think a lot of people will be shocked to see the level of competition at the Invictus Games,” said Invictus Games,” said Innes.
“I think a lot of the Invictus athletes are even a higher caliber than Paralympians as far as I am concerned.”
Innes has never let his disability slow him down. He’s a fitness trainer and back in 2013, he even cycled 200 kilometres on a three-wheeled handcycle to raise money for cancer research.
"If anything I have become more competitive since my accident," said Innes.
"It’s maybe not something I have to prove to somebody else but it is something I have to prove to myself and I think that is what keeps a lot of us going, you don't see me sitting around feeling sorry for myself. I have always done something to better myself and keep myself going because I think that is a big part of it."
Ivan Wanis-Ruiz is the Invictus Games National Flag Tour spokesperson. He says inspirational stories like Invictus Games National Flag Tour spokesperson. He says inspirational stories like Innes’ have been common right across the country during the 37-day flag tour which has traveling from coast-to-coast and will visit 22 Canadian Armed Forces, 15 legions, and over 50 communities, until September 22nd.
“The spirit of the games is really something quite unique, it is the spirit that brings people together and shows the power of sport because from Cold Lake to Val Cartier you hear flag bearers, Invictus Games competitors, stepping up and this is just giving them a new hope, a new direction.”
While there will be no North Bay athletes at the international event that began in 2014, The Canadian Military Wives Choirs North Bay will be singing in the opening ceremonies in Toronto on September 23rd.
The local choir sang the American and Canadian National anthems at the tour stop in the CFB North Bay gymnasium Monday afternoon.
For more information on the Invictus Games go here: https://invictusgamesfoundation.org/games/2017/
