Prince Harry lauds the healing power of sports as he kicks off a promotional tour of Asia in Tokyo

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Britain’s Prince Harry, escorted by Haruhisa Handa, CEO of the International Sports Promotion Society (ISPS), attends an event organized by the ISPS Wednesday, Aug. 9, 2023, in Tokyo. The program included topics such as the power of sport, community and philanthropy. Harry will travel to Singapore to play in the Sentebale ISPS Handa Polo Cup on Aug. 12. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko)

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Britain’s Prince Harry smiles as he speaks during an event organized by the International Sports Promotion Society (ISPS) Wednesday, Aug. 9, 2023, in Tokyo. The program included topics such as the power of sport, community and philanthropy. Harry will travel to Singapore to play in the Sentebale ISPS Handa Polo Cup on Aug. 12. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko)

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Britain’s Prince Harry gestures as Haruhisa Handa, right, CEO of the International Sports Promotion Society (ISPS) reacts, after attending an event organized by the ISPS Wednesday, Aug. 9, 2023, in Tokyo. The program included topics such as the power of sport, community and philanthropy. Harry will travel to Singapore to play in the Sentebale ISPS Handa Polo Cup on Aug. 12. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko)

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Britain’s Prince Harry, left, and former All Blacks player Dan Carter attend an event organized by the International Sports Promotion Society (ISPS) Wednesday, Aug. 9, 2023, in Tokyo. The program included topics such as the power of sport, community and philanthropy. Harry will travel to Singapore to play in the Sentebale ISPS Handa Polo Cup on Aug. 12. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko)

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Former All Blacks player Dan Carter, from left, Sophie Chandauka, chair of Sentebale, Invictus Games gold medalist Steve James of Australia, Britain’s Prince Harry, Haruhisa Handa, CEO of the International Sports Promotion Society (ISPS), Argentine polo player Ignacio “Nacho” Figueras and Wim de Villiers, rector and vice-chancellor of Stellenbosch University, prepare to pose for photographers at the end of an event organized by the ISPS Wednesday, Aug. 9, 2023, in Tokyo. The program included topics such as the power of sport, community and philanthropy. Harry will travel to Singapore to play in the Sentebale ISPS Handa Polo Cup on Aug. 12. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko)

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Haruhisa Handa, from left, CEO of the International Sports Promotion Society (ISPS), Britain’s Prince Harry, former All Blacks player Dan Carter and Argentine polo player Ignacio “Nacho” Figueras attend an event organized by the ISPS Wednesday, Aug. 9, 2023, in Tokyo. The program included topics such as the power of sport, community and philanthropy. Harry will travel to Singapore to play in the Sentebale ISPS Handa Polo Cup on Aug. 12. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko)

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Former All Blacks player Dan Carter, from left, Britain’s Prince Harry, Haruhisa Handa, CEO of the International Sports Promotion Society (ISPS), and Argentine polo player Ignacio “Nacho” Figueras prepare to pose for photographers at the end of an event organized by the ISPS Wednesday, Aug. 9, 2023, in Tokyo. The program included topics such as the power of sport, community and philanthropy. Harry will travel to Singapore to play in the Sentebale ISPS Handa Polo Cup on Aug. 12. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko)

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Britain’s Prince Harry, right, gestures as Haruhisa Handa, CEO of the International Sports Promotion Society (ISPS) looks at a message board during an event organized by the ISPS Wednesday, Aug. 9, 2023, in Tokyo. The program included topics such as the power of sport, community and philanthropy. Harry will travel to Singapore to play in the Sentebale ISPS Handa Polo Cup on Aug. 12. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko)

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Britain’s Prince Harry speaks during an event organized by the International Sports Promotion Society (ISPS) Wednesday, Aug. 9, 2023, in Tokyo. The program included topics such as the power of sport, community and philanthropy. Harry will travel to Singapore to play in the Sentebale ISPS Handa Polo Cup on Aug. 12. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko)

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Britain’s Prince Harry gestures as he leaves an event organized by the International Sports Promotion Society (ISPS) Wednesday, Aug. 9, 2023, in Tokyo. The program included topics such as the power of sport, community and philanthropy. Harry will travel to Singapore to play in the Sentebale ISPS Handa Polo Cup on Aug. 12. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko)

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Britain’s Prince Harry shakes hands with Haruhisa Handa, CEO of the International Sports Promotion Society (ISPS) as they attend an event organized by the ISPS Wednesday, Aug. 9, 2023, in Tokyo. The program included topics such as the power of sport, community and philanthropy. Harry will travel to Singapore to play in the Sentebale ISPS Handa Polo Cup on Aug. 12. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko)

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Britain’s Prince Harry gestures as he speaks during an event organized by the International Sports Promotion Society (ISPS) Wednesday, Aug. 9, 2023, in Tokyo. The program included topics such as the power of sport, community and philanthropy. Harry will travel to Singapore to play in the Sentebale ISPS Handa Polo Cup on Aug. 12. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko)

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TOKYO (AP) — Prince Harry lauded the virtue of sports and its healing powers on Wednesday as he kicked off a trip to promote sports in Tokyo, the first stop on his tour of Asia.

Sports not only helps build up physical strength but can also help heal the body and mind, the Duke of Sussex said as he spoke at an event hosted by the International Sports Promotion Society, an organization based in the Japanese capital.

He said he has seen sports save people from “rock bottom” of their life. By creating a platform and helping people focus on redefining themselves, “that’s when I see sports really coming to itself.”

“I have seen sports literally save their life,” Prince Harry said. “The physical piece to sports is the obviously the most important. But the mental aspect and healing ability is extraordinary.”

He also stressed that sports has special value for children that can be taught only on a field, not in a classroom. “It brings people together — all sizes, backgrounds, beliefs or religions.”

A polo player, Prince Harry is due to travel from Tokyo to Singapore where he will participate in a polo cup.

Harry and his wife Meghan split acrimoniously from the British royal family. The couple quit royal duties and moved to California in 2020, citing a lack of support from the palace and racist press treatment of Meghan, who is biracial.