What are the Invictus Games and why are world leaders trolling each other over them?

When Canadian prime minister Justin Trudeau tweets, the Internet swoons. But when the youthful Canadian leader tweeted a challenge this week at President Barack Obama and the British royals for the upcoming Invictus Games, eager watchers also had a question: what are the Invictus Games anyway?

The games are a project of Prince Harry’s: an Olympics-like sporting event for active duty military and veterans who are ill or have been wounded by war. The royal decided to start the event after visiting the Warrior Games in the United States, and the first Invictus Games were held in London in 2014.

The name, too, comes from England. The games are named after the poem “Invictus” by English 19th-century poet William Ernest Henley, written as he recovered from a leg amputation. Its last lines have been quoted often by world leaders, including Churchill and Obama himself.

For four days in Orlando next week, more than 500 athletes will challenge each other in 10 events, ranging from basketball, rugby and tennis for wheelchair users to archery and powerlifting. Fifteen countries, including the United States, United Kingdom and Canada, will send men and women to compete.

So why was Justin Trudeau trash-tweeting at the Obamas and the British royals? He wanted to get in on the fun.

In a video tweet last week, the Obamas started a game of one-upmanship, calling out Prince Harry for telling them “bring it at the Invictus Games,” Michelle Obama said.

“Careful what you wish for!” the president said in the video, as an athlete behind him mimicked a mic drop.

Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Harry responded with their own video tweet, in which the queen said, “Boom. Really? Please.”

Trudeau, true to his viral social-media reputation, outdid them both by doing his own pushups.

“I just thought I’d show our friends in the U.S. and the U.K. how Canada does it,” he said.

This story was originally published May 3, 2016 at 8:11 AM with the headline "What are the Invictus Games and why are world leaders trolling each other over them?."