May302017

News story: Prince Harry unveils the UK team for the Invictus Games 2017

HM Government
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Prince Harry joined the 2017 UK team of Wounded, Injured and Sick (WIS) Service personnel and veterans for their first official team photograph at the Tower of London today. Following the unveiling, Prince Harry, who is patron of the Invictus Games Foundation, joined competitors at a reception in Plaisterers Hall.

The Invictus Games harness the power of sport to inspire recovery and generate wider understanding and respect for those who serve their country. Getting involved in sport provides significant physical and mental health benefits including increasing self-confidence and psychological empowerment.

More than 300 WIS personnel and veterans applied for one of 90 places available on the team. Selection criteria included the benefit the Invictus Games will give an individual as part of their recovery, combined with performance and commitment to training. 62% of the team are new to the Invictus Games with only 8% having competed in the two previous games, London 2014 and Orlando 2016.

The UK team will join 16 other nations at the third Invictus Games from 23-30 September in Toronto, Canada. They will compete across 12 sports: athletics, archery, wheelchair basketball, road cycling, powerlifting, indoor rowing, wheelchair rugby, swimming, sitting volleyball, wheelchair tennis, the Jaguar Land Rover Driving Challenge, and a new sport for 2017, golf.

The 2017 UK team captain has been named as former Army Major Bernie Broad. He served in the Grenadier Guards for around 30 years and due to injuries sustained in an explosion in Afghanistan 2009 lost both his legs below the knee.

He said:

The Invictus Games are empowering and inspire all of us as competitors to be the best version of ourselves. It allows us to be judged on what we can achieve, rather than what we can’t.

To simply be selected for the UK Team was an amazing achievement. To then be further selected as the UK Team Captain filled me with such immense pride and it is a huge privilege to be given this honour.

Between now and the Games, training will take place across the country at recovery centres and other external venues to train and develop the team.

The UK delegation to the Invictus Games Toronto 2017 is being delivered by a partnership comprising The Ministry of Defence (MOD), Help for Heroes, and The Royal British Legion.

The full team list can be found on the Help for Heroes website.

May302017

News story: Prince Harry unveils the UK team for the Invictus Games 2017

HM Government
image_pdfimage_print

Prince Harry joined the 2017 UK team of Wounded, Injured and Sick (WIS) Service personnel and veterans for their first official team photograph at the Tower of London today. Following the unveiling, Prince Harry, who is patron of the Invictus Games Foundation, joined competitors at a reception in Plaisterers Hall.

The Invictus Games harness the power of sport to inspire recovery and generate wider understanding and respect for those who serve their country. Getting involved in sport provides significant physical and mental health benefits including increasing self-confidence and psychological empowerment.

More than 300 WIS personnel and veterans applied for one of 90 places available on the team. Selection criteria included the benefit the Invictus Games will give an individual as part of their recovery, combined with performance and commitment to training. 62% of the team are new to the Invictus Games with only 8% having competed in the two previous games, London 2014 and Orlando 2016.

The UK team will join 16 other nations at the third Invictus Games from 23-30 September in Toronto, Canada. They will compete across 12 sports: athletics, archery, wheelchair basketball, road cycling, powerlifting, indoor rowing, wheelchair rugby, swimming, sitting volleyball, wheelchair tennis, the Jaguar Land Rover Driving Challenge, and a new sport for 2017, golf.

The 2017 UK team captain has been named as former Army Major Bernie Broad. He served in the Grenadier Guards for around 30 years and due to injuries sustained in an explosion in Afghanistan 2009 lost both his legs below the knee.

He said:

The Invictus Games are empowering and inspire all of us as competitors to be the best version of ourselves. It allows us to be judged on what we can achieve, rather than what we can’t.

To simply be selected for the UK Team was an amazing achievement. To then be further selected as the UK Team Captain filled me with such immense pride and it is a huge privilege to be given this honour.

Between now and the Games, training will take place across the country at recovery centres and other external venues to train and develop the team.

The UK delegation to the Invictus Games Toronto 2017 is being delivered by a partnership comprising The Ministry of Defence (MOD), Help for Heroes, and The Royal British Legion.

The full team list can be found on the Help for Heroes website.

May302017

UK Government urged to drive Unitary Patent ratification

British Chambers of Commerce
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BCC and Eurochambres have written to Business Secretary Greg Clark calling on the UK government to drive ahead with the ratification of the Unitary Patent Court Agreement.

30th May 2017 

Prior to discussions on the Unitary Patent at the 29-30 May Competitiveness Council, EUROCHAMBRES and the British Chambers of Commerce have urged the UK Government to do everything within its powers to facilitate the completion of the complex and lengthy ratification process, regardless of the general election and Article 50 negotiations.

The UK has a pivotal role to play in the ratification process as one of the leading countries involved when it comes to patent applications/validations. The current UK Government confirmed that it would proceed with ratification of the Unified Patent Court Agreement at the November 2016 Competitiveness Council, despite the outcome of the UK referendum on EU membership. However, this process has now been thrown into doubt by the announcement of a snap general election and dissolution of parliament.

In a joint letter to Greg Clark, the UK Business Secretary, whose department is responsible for intellectual property, EUROCHAMBRES and the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) call on the Government to continue to play a positive and proactive role in the process in any way it can.

“The UK has been a strong proponent of the Unitary Patent for decades, so now that this process is so close to completion, we want the Government to go the extra mile in ensuring that the Unified Patent Court Agreement is ratified swiftly. What better way to demonstrate a constructive and business oriented attitude to the negotiations on Article 50 and post Brexit relations?”, said Arnaldo Abruzzini, CEO of EUROCHAMBRES.  

Adam Marshall, Director General of the British Chambers of Commerce, said: “Ratifying the Unified Patent Court Agreement is a no-brainer, as it would allow UK firms to protect their intellectual property in over two dozen countries with a single application, and reduce practical barriers to trade and export. As a longtime proponent of a Unified Patent, the UK government should commit to ratifying the agreement as soon as possible – and explore all avenues for the UK to continue to participate in the Unified Patent system after the UK leaves the EU.”

Link to joint EUROCHAMBRES / British Chambers of Commerce letter: http://bit.ly/2rMlMu4

The British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) sits at the heart of a powerful network of 52 Accredited Chambers of Commerce across the UK, representing thousands of businesses of all sizes and within all sectors. Our Global Business Network connects exporters with nearly 40 markets around the world. For more information, visit: www.britishchambers.org.uk

EUROCHAMBRES, the Association of European Chambers of Commerce and Industry, represents over 20 million enterprises in Europe – 98% of which are SMEs – through members in 43 countries and a European network of 1700 regional and local Chambers.

BCC media contact: Allan Williams, Tel. +44 20 7654 5812, a.williams@britishchambers.org.uk or  Orla Hennessy, +44 20 76545813, o.hennessy@britishchambers.org.uk

EUROCHAMBRES media contact: Mr Arnaldo Abruzzini, Tel. +32 2 282 08 52, abruzzini@eurochambres.eu

May302017

Children from B&R countries to celebrate Children’s Day in Beijing

East Asia
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Chinese children were rehearsing one of their programs, Passion for Opera, in Beijing on May 30, for an activity named “Dreams of the Future in B&R Young Hearts -Celebrating International Children’s Day” to be held on May 31 by Beijing-based not-for-profit organization China Soong Ching Ling Foundation. [By Chen Boyuan / China.org.cn]

Children from the Belt and Road countries will celebrate the upcoming International Children’s Day in Beijing on May 31.

An activity named “Dreams of the Future in B&R Young Hearts -Celebrating International Children’s Day” will be held by Beijing-based not-for-profit organization China Soong Ching Ling Foundation.

The activity will be attended by about 650 children from 38 countries along the Belt and Road who are currently in Beijing. China-based diplomats from Belt and Road countries and representatives from international organizations such as Shanghai Cooperation Organization and Association of Southeast Asian Nations will also attend the celebration activity.

Children will participate in a series of programs on the morning of May 31, including singing, painting exhibition, robots performance and gifts exchange.

The celebration is intended to promote the consensus reached at the recently concluded Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation and facilitate people-to-people exchange among different countries.

May302017

Cardiff set for ‘busiest ever weekend’ as UEFA Champions League comes to town

Welsh Government
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In welcoming the first wave of fans to Wales, the Economy Secretary highlighted the different options available to those wishing to travel, stressing the importance of leaving plenty of time to avoid disruption. 

Ken Skates said: 

“The long wait is almost over. This weekend will see Cardiff host the greatest sporting event of 2017, the UEFA Champions League Final. The final is  the culmination of months of planning that has been  focussed on ensuring visitors from across the world are safe, well looked after and afforded a fantastic Welsh welcome as they enjoy the occasion.   

“With around 200,000 additional visitors expected in Cardiff over 1-4 June, 2,500 members of the media and an estimated global live TV audience of 200 million, few events can match the Champions League Final for size and scope. The challenges that come with being the smallest city ever to host such an event should not be underestimated, not least in ensuring that every aspect of the infrastructure and transport network is primed  to best serve South Wales and it’s many visitors. 

“The weekend will see additional trains providing capacity for up to 60,000 passengers,  with partners from across the UK helping ensure increased rail capacity and frequency. 

“There will be over 1250 coaches, an additional temporary terminal at Cardiff airport helping welcome up to 10,000 air charter passengers to Wales and  the Eastern Bay link road which will open to coaches. There will also be a number of park and ride/walks in full operation, the newest of which, in Llanwern, will add 4,000 additional spaces. 

“These are amongst the many, many measures in place to support what will be the busiest ever weekend on our transport network. For those travelling in and around Cardiff, please leave plenty of time and carefully consider all available modes of transport to avoid disruption.” 

To plan your travel over the Event period download the Cardiff 2017 Travel Guide App from cardiff2017.wales/travelapp. More detailed information on transport options for 1-4 June can be found at: www.cardiff2017.wales/travel (external link) or on Twitter: @cardiff17travel