Prince Harry is set to receive a special honor at the 2024 ESPY Awards.
On Thursday, June 27, ESPN announced Harry, 39, will be this year’s recipient of the Pat Tillman Award for Service. Each year, the award is presented to someone who has used their connection to the world of sports to positively impact the lives of others. It’s named in honored of legendary NFL player and U.S. Army Ranger, Pat Tillman.
The Duke of Sussex was chosen as the 2024 honoree in recognition of the profound impact he has had on the veteran community with his Invictus Games Foundation. Harry began the foundation after spending 10 years in the British Armed Forces, during which time he completed two tours of duty in Afghanistan and served as a forward air controller and Apache helicopter pilot. Through his foundation, the prince empowers wounded, sick and injured servicemen and women to stay active and form communities through their involvement in sports activities.
In response to learning he will receive the Pat Tillman Award at this year’s ESPYS, Harry said, “This one is for our entire service community.”
The Invictus Games have become a worldwide phenomenon, changing the lives of soldiers on every continent. In honor of the 10th anniversary of the Games, Harry has been celebrating the Invictus community with visits to the U.K. and Nigeria.
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Harry is gearing up for the first-ever Winter Invictus Games, which will be held in Whistler, Canada, in 2025. The Duke of Sussex and his wife, Meghan Markle, were in Canada in February to kickoff a year of celebrations leading up to the big event.
Other sports icons who will be honored at the awards include University of South Carolina’s women’s basketball head coach Dawn Staley, who will receive the Jimmy V Award for Perseverance, and former NFL safety Steve Gleason, who will be given the Arthur Ashe Award for Courage.
“It’s our privilege to recognize three incredible individuals — Steve Gleason, Dawn Staley and Prince Harry,” Kate Jackson, VP, Production, ESPN said in a press release. “These honorees have used their platforms to change the world and make it more inclusive for marginalized and suffering communities, demonstrating incredible resilience, positivity and perseverance, and we’re thrilled to celebrate them at The 2024 ESPYS.”
Making Harry’s honor all the more special is that this year’s ESPYS will be hosted by his and Meghan’s close friend Serena Williams. The ESPYS will be air July 11 at 8 p.m. on ABC.
Source people.com
