Soccer legend David Beckham has signed up as an ambassador for Prince Harry’s Invictus Games to be held in Sydney later this year.
In a social media post, the former England football captain says that he’s “incredibly proud” to be an ambassador for the Games, which will see 500 wounded and sick defense force veterans from 18 nations competing in 11 adaptive sports from October 20 to 27.
It’s expected that Beckham will join Prince Harry, along with the Duchess of Sussex down under during the event.
The Games organisers are yet to confirm how the football star will be involved in the event. “I’ve been lucky enough to meet and work with many serving, veteran and wounded British armed forces personnel over the years and I’ve been humbled by the courage, resilience and spirit shown by each and every one of them,” Beckham posted on Instagram.
“The entire Invictus Games team, led by the Duke of Sussex, has achieved remarkable things in such a short space of time, using sport as a powerful force to rehabilitate and unite and I can’t wait to be part of the energy and the excellence of the Games this year,” he went on to say.
The Beckhams have been friends with Princes Harry and William for years, attending both of their weddings. Their trip will also include stops in Fiji, Tonga and New Zealand.
News.co.au reports that Beckham joins a host of Australians who have also previously been announced as ambassadors for the Games, including Olympic gold medallists Anna Meares and Ian Thorpe, comedian and radio host Hamish Blake and Sir Peter Cosgrove.
“We’re thrilled to welcome #DavidBeckham as an #IG2018 ambassador,” Invictus Sydney tweeted.
The Invictus Games was first launched in London in 2014. After the Sydney, the next Invictus Games is set to be held in the Netherlands in May 2020.