PRINCE HARRY AND THE RAPPER MACKLEMORE WILL BE THE STAR GUESTS OF THE SHOW
The Opening Ceremony of the INVICTUS GAMES DÜSSELDORF 2023 presented by Boeing will feature spectacular, touching and highly entertaining shows. Highlight of the show will be the entrance of the nations. The shows are replete with music stars, top-class speakers, touching and uplifting moments as well as an entertaining show programme.
The grand Opening Ceremony on Saturday, 9 September, at 6 p.m. is the magnificent kick-off for the eight-day sporting event in and around the MERKUR SPIEL-ARENA. The tone of the show is set right at the beginning by the entrance of the 21 participating nations into the ‘Heart of Invictus’. During this, all participants are given the respect they deserve for their personal travel, their service for their country and their way towards physical and mental recovery. After all, the motto of the show is that of the Games: ‘A Home for Respect.’ After the ceremonious entrance, the Federal Chancellor Olaf Scholz, the Mayor of the City of Düsseldorf Stephan Keller and Ziad Ojakli of Boeing will welcome the competitors with a video message.
Following this, two participants will tell their life stories on stage – paired with the opening speech by Prince Harry, the Duke of Sussex, these will certainly be the touching highlights of the show. The evening will be hosted by Hadnet Tesfai and Steven Gätjen. Hadnet Tesfai is a nationally known presenter and DJ, who, in addition to having her own TV show, podcasts or radio shows, has also hosted the opening show of the Berlin film festival. Her counterpart Steven Gätjen, as the host of shows like ‘Joko & Klaas gegen Pro7’, ‘Schlag den Raab’ or the broadcast of the Academy Awards, is a universally known TV face. In his own podcast ‘Kino oder Couch’ (cinema or couch), the film specialist Steven Gätjen chats about films, series or his private life.
One of the world’s best-known inclusive dance companies, the AXIS Dance Company, will then perform – their show inspires with energetic choreographies and thus draws attention to people with impairments. After the dancers of theAXISDance Company have raised the Invictus Games flag with the help of six children and the accompaniment of the Bundeswehr Big Band, the Federal Minister of Defence, Boris Pistorius, will welcome the participants of the competitions. The Opening Ceremony will close with the performance of the rapper Macklemore. The US superstar is known for catchy tunes thanks to number one hits like ‘Can’t Hold Us’ or ‘Thrift Shop’. Macklemore’s songs and their messages of strength, hope and bravery provide a fitting setting for the spectacular opening ceremony. Macklemore: ‘It is a great honour to perform at an event with such an important cause as the Invictus Games.’
‘We are very much looking forward to the Games and the spectacular ceremonies that will be a highlight of our visit to Düsseldorf. As the next host nation of the Invictus Games, we look forward to participating in the competitions, enjoying the shows and making meaningful connections with people from all over the world,’ says Daniel Comeau, captain of Team Canada.
With the touching and captivating opening show, theINVICTUSGAMESDÜSSELDORF2023 presented by Boeing will start into the week of competitions. Here, more than 500 competitors will compete in ten sports. In 208 sports events, a total of 624 medals will be awarded.