The World Transplant Games represent the largest organ donor awareness event in the world.
The competitors are unique in that each one of them is alive and well as a result
of a successful organ transplant. Were it not for that transplant, these competitors would either be dead or, as in the case of a kidney recipient, surviving as a result of intensive renal support in some form of dialysis. The competitors are also unique in that it is compulsory that all are on drugs, which are necessary for their health after a transplant.
Summer World Transplant Games
These Games are held every two years, with over 1500 athletes representing 69 countries competing at an extraordinarily high level.
In 1980, New York was the first city to host the Summer Games outside of the UK. Since then, the Games have been to Athens in 1982, Sydney in 1997 and Bangkok in 2007 as well as many other countries worldwide. Embracing athletes from 4 to 80 years old, the Games cover over 50 events including athletics, swimming, golf and cycling.
Winter World Transplant Games
The Winter Games, which were first held in Tignes France in 1994, take place in the intervening years, providing an opportunity for athletes to compete on the ski slopes. In 1999 the Winter Games were held in Salt Lake City, USA and in 2008 Rovaniemi, Finland joined the list of host cities. In 2010 South Africa took part for the first time during the WWTG in France
MILESTONES
- First World Transplant Games Federation event held in 1978
- The Games have since grown – International Summer Games now held every two years
- In 2003 (France) , 1000 competitors from 55 countries took part – 28 000 people attended the opening ceremony
- In 2005 the 4th Nicholas Cup ski event for Transplanted children was held in Poland
- In 2005 the 15th World Summer Games were held in Ontario, Canada
- Current membership: 69 countries, many with own Nat ional Transplant
 When and where…
Summer Games
2009 Gold Coast, Australia
2007 Bangkok, Thailand
2005 Ontario, Canada
2003 Nancy, France
2001 Kobe, Japan
1999 Budapest, Hungary
1997 Sydney, Australia
1995 Manchester, UK
1993 Vancouver, Canada
1991 Budapest, Hungary
1989 Singapore
1987 Innesbruck, Austria
1984 Amsterdam, Netherlands
1982 Athens, Greece
1980 New York, USA
1979 Portsmouth, UK
1978 Portsmouth, UK
Winter Games
2008 Rovaniemi, Finland, with the Nicholas Cup for children
2005 Zakopane, Poland, with the Nicholas Cup for children
2004 Bormio, Italy
2001 Nendaz, Switzerland
1999 Salt Lake City, USA
1994 Tignes, France
Some interesting records from the World Transplant Games
100m in 11.18 seconds
200m in 23.49 seconds
Long Jump - 6.85m
High Jump- 1.81m |
