Prince Harryis kicking off his sporty trip to Asia with a stop in Tokyo.
The Duke of Sussex stepped out in the capital of Japan on Wednesday for the ISPS Sports Values Summit-Special Edition. He attended with his friend (and fellow polo player!)Ignacio “Nacho” Figueras.
Prince Harry, 38, and Figueras, 46, participated in the summit on the power of sport, community and philanthropy.
In a statement via his charity Sentebale, Harry said, “I have long believed that sport is a conduit for healing – not just for the mind and body but the world. Sport requires having a dream and the need for community.”
Prince Harry speaks during the conference in Tokyo, Japan.AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko
AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko
He also showed off his sense of humor. When a man off-camera said, “For such an icon, so humble,” Harry quickly retorted, “Well, you are fabulous” — drawing laughs from the choir! The two men then shared a hug.
“I’ll put that on my resumé,” the man said.
Prince Harry then asked if they could do a group hug, ending with Harry leading them in a countdown to shout in unison, “South Africa!”
Figueras said in a statement, “It’s wonderful to be here in Japan on behalf of Sentebale taking the opportunity to talk about the power of polo, a sport I love, and how it serves as a platform to raise awareness for our work. Next stop is Singapore, where we will be raising funds for Sentebale’s important work in southern Africa whilst enjoying a great afternoon of polo."
Carter said, “When I was playing sport, I was most proud of inspiring the next generation of kids coming through. Now, I have been able to bring my two passions together – sport and giving back.”
Prince Harry at the summit in Tokyo, Japan.The Yomiuri Shimbun via AP Images
The Yomiuri Shimbun via AP Images
Prince Harry wasspotted arriving in Japanon Tuesday ahead of the sports summit. The Duke of Sussex wore a baseball cap featuring the logo forArchewell Foundation, the organization he created with his wife,Meghan Markle, as he made his way through the airport.
Prince Harry at the summit.The Yomiuri Shimbun via AP Images
News of Harry’s participation in the panel was announced in thesame statementin July confirming he would saddle up for the 2023 Sentebale ISPS Handa Polo Cup in Singapore on Aug. 12.
On Saturday, Prince Harry will trot onto the pitch for the Royal Salute Sentebale Team at the Singapore Polo Club. Meanwhile, Figueras, a longstanding Sentebale ambassador, will captain the Singapore Polo Club Team. The equestrian event will mark a return to familiar turf, as the Sentebale Royal Salute Polo Cup (as it was known at the time) was held at the Singapore Polo Club in 2017.
Prince Harry plays in the 2022 Sentebale Polo Cup.Chris Jackson/Getty
Chris Jackson/Getty
Sharing more about this year’s focus, Prince Harry said in astatement, “The annual Polo Cup is essential to Sentebale’s vital work ensuring children and young people are healthy, resilient, and able to thrive. The funds raised this year will support our Clubs and Camps programme, which provides intensive psychosocial support to young people living with HIV. In a time where being HIV positive is no longer a death sentence, we are empowering young people to know their status, stay healthy, and eliminate the stigma so that they can break the cycle.”
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Prince Harry at the sports summit.The Yomiuri Shimbun via AP Images
“We are delighted to return to the renowned Singapore Polo Club in August, and are once again enormously grateful for the polo community and our sponsors, in particular ISPS Handa, for their ongoing commitment to Lesotho and Botswana’s youth,” he added in July.
The Duke of Sussex and Figueras seemed to be in good spirits when theytouched down in Tokyoon Tuesday, beginning a trip connected to how their friendship got its start. Figueras met Harry at a charity match benefiting Sentebale in 2007 andpreviously told PEOPLEthe prince’s passion made an impact.
Prince Harry at the summit in Toykyo, Japan.The Yomiuri Shimbun via AP Images
“From day one, I saw how committed he was to his charity,” the Argentinian polo star told PEOPLE last summer. “Fast forward 15 years, I’ve been to Lesotho with him a few times, and I’ve seen what great work the charity does and how important it is for a lot of kids, how committed he is, how much he really cares about it.”
The ISPS Handa Sentebale Polo Cup has been held in Aspen, Colorado for the last two years — a short flight from Harry’s California home withMeghan and their two children, 4-year-old sonPrince Archieand 2-year-old daughterPrincess Lilibet.
In years past, however, the polo cup has been held around the world, from Barbados to Brazil, the United Arab Emirates, South Africa and Italy, as well as the U.K.
Nacho Figueras and Prince Harry at the 2022 Sentebale Polo Cup.Chris Jackson/Getty
Prince Harry’s appearance in Tokyo comes just after theroyal family removed references to Harry’s “His Royal Highness” titlefrom their official website. The title was replaced with “the Duke” or “the Duke of Sussex.”
What would happen to Prince Harry and Meghan’s titles was revealed shortly after they announced they werestepping back as working members of the royal familyin 2020.
Prince Harry and Meghan would still be referred to formally as the Duke and Duchess of Sussex and called Harry, the Duke of Sussex and Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex.
source: people.com
