Prince Harry is set to be honored for his exceptional service and his impactful use of the Invictus Games to foster global change at a prestigious awards ceremony in the US next month.
The Duke of Sussex will receive the Pat Tillman Award for Service at this year's ESPY Awards in Los Angeles. The event will be hosted by tennis star Serena Williams, a close friend of his wife, Meghan Markle. The ESPY Awards, organized by the sports channel ESPN, annually recognize individuals in the sporting world who have made significant contributions to the lives of others.
Harry is being acknowledged for founding the Invictus Games a decade ago to support injured and sick servicemen and women, both on active duty and veterans, who are navigating physical and invisible injuries. ESPN praised Harry for his tireless work in making a positive impact on the veteran community through the power of sport, noting that the Invictus Games have transcended borders and impacted lives across every continent. The announcement on Sussex's official website highlighted that the ESPY Awards recognize exceptional individuals who exemplify courage, perseverance, and service.
Kate Jackson, ESPN's Vice President of Production, remarked, "It's our privilege to recognize three incredible individuals: Steve Gleason, Dawn Staley, and Prince Harry. 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. We are thrilled to celebrate them at the 2024 ESPYs."
Steve Gleason, who will receive the Award for Courage, is a former NFL player who, after being diagnosed with ALS, founded the Team Gleason charity to support others with the degenerative disease. Gleason also successfully lobbied for the Steve Gleason Act, which ensures access to speech generation communication technology in the United States. Dawn Staley, an Olympic gold medalist and head coach of the University of South Carolina women's basketball team, will receive the Jimmy V Award for Perseverance for her on-court resilience, support for women's sports and equality, and cancer research campaigning.
The Pat Tillman Award for Service is named after former NFL player and US Army Ranger Pat Tillman, who was killed in Afghanistan in 2004. The award honors individuals who exemplify Tillman's legacy of service and dedication. Despite the accolade, some critics have questioned the timing and legitimacy of the award announcement. Rumors circulated on social media platforms like Tumblr, suggesting that the news was rushed and not intended to be released on the day it was announced. According to these rumors, ESPN's marketing team was not alerted about the release, leading to speculation that the announcement was hastily approved by top executives to distract from other negative news surrounding Harry and Meghan.
There is a perception among some that Harry and Meghan receive awards not for any phenomenal talent or meritorious performance but based on undetermined criteria assessed by a small group of individuals, often not their peers. This sentiment extends to other awards they have received, such as the Living Legend of Aviation Award given to Harry, which was perceived as purchased rather than earned for any significant contributions to aviation. Similarly, Meghan's acceptance of the Ms. Foundation's Women of Vision Award in New York City was marred by controversy, particularly the widely disputed high-speed car chase incident in Manhattan.
Critics argue that many of the awards given to Harry and Meghan are bought through donations from the Royal Foundation to the awarding organizations. This perception undermines the legitimacy of the accolades and fuels skepticism about their true contributions and achievements.
