Transplant Games
The 33 members of Transplant Team Ireland enjoyed fantastic success at the 18th World Transplant Games held in Sweden recently, securing a new world record in one event and picking up a massive haul of 36 medals, comprising 12 Gold, 12 Silver and 12 Bronze
Well Done to Ireland's Transplant Team in the 18th World Transplant Games in Goteburg.
These games are about celebrating life and the strength and generosity of the human spirit.
A 33 strong Irish team, ranging in age from 9 years to over 70 years werre among the l,l00 athletes from over 50 countries who are participated in this wonderful and inspirational world event.
For full details on the games, interesting stories and results log on to: www.transplantteamireland.com
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European Transplant Games in Dublin 2010
Celebrating life will be the legacy of Ireland’s staging of the 6th European Transplant & Dialysis Games, which were held in Dublin from 9th to 14th August, 2010 and which were considered by all to have been an outstanding success.
Congratulations to all involved in this wonderful event, the organisers and volunteers and particularly the inspirational athletes from all over Europe who took part in the games.
With its best performance ever, Ireland secured the largest haul of medals overall at the Games with an impressive 116 medals including 40 gold, 35 silver and 41 bronze, but was pipped for top position by Hungary in the mdals table. The table is decided on gold medals, and Hungary finished in the top slot with 45 gold, 31 silver, and 33 bronze, making a total of 109 medals. Germany were third with 37 gold medals.
Good weather prevailed and large crowds attended this historic event which was held in Ireland for the first time ever. It is the largest organ donor awareness event to take place in Europe this year. The unique games brought over 350 brave athletes from 24 European countries together to celebrate the ‘gift of life’.
See full results and stories of personal triumphs from the games on to the games website : www.2010NewLife.com
There were also Croatian celebrations in Dublin when Zagreb was selected to host the European Transplant and Dialysis games in 2012 for the very first time.
Every athlete will either have received a transplant or be on dialysis at the time of the Games. The Croatian Games will take place from August 19th-26th, 2012.
At the Dublin games last week the Croatian team performed superbly.
Athletes who took part in the Games are either on dialysis treatment at the moment, or have received a transplant of one, or a combination, of the following: kidney, liver, heart, pancreas, lungs, and bone marrow.
“These Games are incredibly special, because every athlete who takes to the starting-line has already won a major personal battle to just be there,” said Irish team captain Mick Dwyer, who received a kidney transplant ten years ago.
“I give thanks to my donor every day of my life, and especially at Games like this. Athletes on dialysis will also celebrate the gift of life, and look forward to the day they get their own transplant.”
The sports involved were badminton, tenpin bowling, cycling, darts, track & field, golf, mini-marathon, petanque, swimming, table tennis, tennis, and volleyball.
The competing countries were Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, and the United Kingdom.
Ireland had a record 71 athletes at the games, representing: Antrim (1), Cavan (3), Clare (2), Cork (5), Dublin (22), Galway (5), Kerry (2), Kildare (3), Kilkenny (3), Leitrim (1), Limerick (1), Longford (1), Louth (1), Mayo (3), Meath (3), Monaghan (1), Roscommon (3), Sligo (1), Tipperary (3), Wexford (3), and Wicklow (4).
Athletics legend Eamonn Coghlan paid tribute to the athletes. “Everyone’s a winner in these Games,” he told the Irish team when he met them for a motivational talk before the gamers. He added: “You have displayed not only your love of sport, but your love of life, and you are an inspiration to all of us.”
For a full report, & results log on to the games website : www.2010NewLife.com
or Colin White
National Transplant & Dialysis Games Manager.
Tel. +353 1 620 5306 / +353 87 684 3644
Fax. +353 1 620 5366
