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The NKF U.S. Transplant Games - History
History
In the United States, Olympic-style games for transplant recipients were first held in Texas in 1982 and attracted only a small number of participants. They were held several times throughout the 1980's, but the event was mainly regional in scope and participation dwindled. In 1990, the National Kidney Foundation was approached by Sandoz Pharmaceuticals (Novartis) and asked to take on the task of organizing and rejuvenating the Games in an effort to give something back to the transplant community. As a result, the first NKF U.S. Transplant Games were held in 1990 on the campus of Indiana University/Purdue University in Indianapolis. Participation grew from a dwindling dozen to more than 400 athletes and 600 supporters. The success of the Games and the message they engender began to spread to the entire transplant community.
The 1992 NKF U.S. Transplant Games, held at UCLA, continued the explosive growth, with over 850 athletes gathering in Los Angeles and more than 2,000 total supporters. It was at the 1992 Games that the concept of local teams was introduced. Over 35 organized teams participated, most of whom spent over a year prior promoting the Games and their involvement to the local media and their local transplant communities. This organized local structure helped to bring the message of organ donation and the Games (and those of our sponsors) to the local environment and was the beginning of the largest organized transplant support group in the nation and throughout the world. The 1992 Games was also the first event that invited a donor family to address the Games participants directly. The reaction to the involvement of donor families at this event, demonstrated (by vivid example to the NKF and the entire transplant community) the strong desire and need for better communication between transplant recipients and donor families.
The 1994 NKF U.S. Transplant Games were held on the campus of Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia, and drew more than 1,000 athletes and 2,500 total supporters, who participated as part of 52 teams. Thanks to a grant from Sandoz Pharmaceuticals, the Local Team Support Program was founded as a way to provide a more organized approach to team development. The Local Team Support Program provided the necessary resources and guidance to ensure effective team building in areas such as marketing, media, athlete recruitment, public awareness and fund raising at the local level. Special programs for children and educational symposia for recipients, families and friends were added to the program. Special tribute was also paid to the 4,000 families who donated their loved ones organs each year.
The 1996 Games were held on the campus of the University of Utah in Salt Lake City and again were the largest gathering of transplant recipients in one place ever. In addition to the already established events of the Games, additional emphasis was placed on the team aspect of the Games. Team golf and team bowling were added in addition to 3-on-3 Basketball as a competition event.
The 1998 Games, held August 5-8 on the campus of Ohio State University in Columbus, continued to build on this event’s rich history. The 1998 Games featured the National Donor Recognition Ceremony, a program for donor families, procurement professionals and living donors, as part of an expanded Opening Ceremonies that included the unveiling of the United States Post Office new organ donation stamp. Competition in team volleyball and the 200 meter event in track and field were also added.
The 2000 NKF U.S. Transplant Games, held at Disney's Wide World of Sports in Orlando, Florida, achieved the highest level of attendance to date with more than 7,000 people. For the first time, donor family liaisons were added to the team structure and donor families were actively recruited as part of official teams. Transitions in Transplantation, a special education program for health care professionals, designed to focus on how transplant professionals and donor families deal with life's changes was added. A cadre of celebrities attended the event and worked with the media to bring the issue of organ donation to the general public. Our live web-casting of the Games brought accolades from the cyber world and helped to bring the event to thousands of individuals all across the world.
Held in conjunction with the 2000 NKF U.S. Transplant Games, Transitions in Transplantation, the Giving, Grieving, Growing Program for Donor Families and the Living Donor Program, provided educational support and guidance to those who are involved with and affected by the organ donor process and transplantation.
Disney’s Wide World of Sports was once again the location for the 2002 NKF U.S. Transplant Games. For the first time, a Living Donor Recognition Ceremony was held to celebrate those who gave the most precious gift—the gift of life.
The 2004 NKF U.S. Transplant Games held in Minneapolis, Minnesota, marked the 50th anniversary of transplantation. A special Tribute to Pioneers of Transplantation was held to honor Honorary Chairman of the 2004 Games, Dr. Joseph Murray, who performed the first successful transplant in the world, alongside his colleagues who also pioneered transplant surgeries. A symphony entitled “Transformations of Darkness and Light” was specially commissioned for this hallmark event, composed by Linda Tutas Haugen and performed by the Minnesota Symphony orchestra. Approximately 7,000 participants attended Opening Ceremonies at the Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome in downtown Minneapolis.
In 2006, the NKF U.S. Transplant Games enjoyed the rich culture of Louisville, Kentucky. With the Opening Ceremony changed to Saturday, the 5K Race now kicked off the Games. Hall-of-Fame jockey Pat Day supported the first annual Dean Kutz Race for Organ and Tissue Donor Awareness to honor his late Jockey competitor and friend. The Games also attracted and welcomed comedian George Lopez and his wife Anne, who was a keynote speaker. For the first time, Track & Field included Discus as a permanent event while athletes 70-and-over now had their own age category.
After nearly 20 years of organizing the NKF U.S. Transplant Games, the National Kidney Foundation strives to continue its mission of spreading organ donation awareness by showcasing the success of life after transplantation. The Games have proved to be a powerful mechanism in reaching thousands of people thus far, but the NKF realizes that much more is needed to accomplish its overall objective: to increase organ donation awareness.
