Team U.S.A.
Differences in philosophy exist between transplant athletic events in the United States and in the rest of the world. In the United States, participation is open to any recipient regardless of ability. The United States is an exception in that most countries select members based solely on athletic talent, previous national and international Games results and by conducting trials to participate. The level of competition at the World Games is high. Each competitor is expected to participate at a level commensurate with this international event.
Eligibility & Entry Information
Each individual must meet the following criteria to be eligible to compete:
All participants must adhere to the rules and policies of the World Transplant Games Federation and Team USA. Entry is open to all recipients of life supporting allografts and hemopoetic cell transplants from other individuals or species which require or have required the use of immunosuppressive drug therapies;
Competitors must have been transplanted for at least 1 year, with stable graft function, be medically fit and have trained in the events in which they have entered. If a potential competitor has been transplanted for at least 6 months, with stable graft function, has been training and has permission from his/her own doctor, entry may be considered by the World Transplant Games Federation (WTGF) medical committee;
The WTGF is solely responsible for checking medical certificates to make sure that all transplant athletes have a high enough standard of health to be able to compete in their chosen sport without undue risk;
Competitors must be medically fit with no significant complications of chronic organ failure or immunosuppressive therapy. The WTGF Medical Committee has the right to refuse entries as they deem appropriate and/or can terminate participation at any time on-site. Each competitor must also obtain medical approval indicating his/her level of physical capacity and fitness;
Competitors must have knowledge, experience and training in the sport(s) in which they are competing. All sports are run under international sport governing bodies rules, except as modified by the WTGF;
Team members of all countries (including accompanying persons) are expected to conduct themselves in an appropriate manner at all times during the Games. Failure to do so or acting in a manner that is unbecoming to a team or against WTGF rules and regulations can lead to immediate disqualification and possible disbarment from future transplant athletic events.
Team USA
The United States has been participating in the World Games since their inception in 1978. Team USA has been organized by the National Kidney Foundation since 1992.
Team USA made its debut at the 1993 World Games in Vancouver with the largest team ever to compete. For the first time, Team USA won the most gold medals, overturning the British tradition of winning the medal count. The British won the title back at the X World Games in 1995 held in Manchester, England, with Team USA finishing a close second. The XI Games in Sydney, Australia, in 1997 were the largest World Games ever held. Team USA sent the largest allowable team--150 competitors--to compete at many of the venues being readied for the upcoming 2000 Olympics.
September 4-13, 1999 saw fifty-seven transplant athletes from across the United States joined together as part of Team USA to compete in the 12th World Transplant Games, held in Budapest, Hungary. More than 1,000 transplant athletes hailing from 40 different countries competed in Games’ events, which included cycling, volleyball, swimming and track and field events.
The 13th World Games were held August 26th- September 1st, 2001, in Kobe, Japan. Team USA brought 67 athletes and a total of over 100 people to participate in this year's Games. They joined 845 athletes from 48 countries and territories competing in 11 sports and 270 events. In an historic upset, USA’s Men’s Track relay team beat out Great Britain for the gold.
Team USA was 80 athletes strong for the 14th World Transplant Games in Nancy, France, July 2003 and for the first time special competitions were held for child athletes. In our great tradition, World Records were set by U.S. athletes in swimming and track/field events. The NKF was proud to sponsor the Male and Female Elite Athlete from the 2002 U.S. Transplant Games to attend the World Games as part of Team USA.
London, Ontario, Canada was the host of the 2005 World Transplant Games from July 16-24th. 137 athletes and 61 supporters came together from across the U.S. to represent the red, white and blue. Of all the countries attending, Team USA came in second overall for medals won, and once again set new World Records. The NKF along with several Affiliates sponsored elite athletes from the U.S. Transplant Games to attend the London Games as part of Team USA.
In 2007, Team USA brought a team of over 80 people to Bangkok, Thailand to participate in and experience the 16th World Transplant Games from August 25th - September 2nd. With 50 athletes and 36 supporters in attendance for this year's World Games, Team USA proudly claimed 81 medals, 6 world records and countless individual and collective achievements all throughout the event. We hope to only improve this number for the 17th World Transplant Games on Australia's Gold Coast from August 22-30, 2009!
Winter World Transplant Games
In 1994, the French transplant athletics organization, TRANS-FORME, organized the first Transplant Games for winter sports in Tignes. Over 100 recipients from eighteen countries participated in cross country and downhill events.
The success of that event spawned the first U.S. Winter Transplant Games and Carnival in Aspen, Colorado in February of 1995. Fifty skiers from all across the nation participated in all levels of nordic and alpine events. Two years later, the second U.S. Winter Transplant Games were held at Mammoth Mountain, in Mammoth Lakes, California.
Warming up for the Olympics, Salt Lake City played host to the 1999 Winter World Transplant Games presented by the National Kidney Foundation (NKF), January 10-15, in lieu of the U.S. Winter Games. Transplant recipients hailing from 60 different countries vied for gold, silver and bronze medals in Alpine and Nordic skiing events, including biathlon and snowboarding competitions.
The 4th Winter World Transplant Games were held in Nendaz, Switzerland, January 14th-19th, 2001, with Team USA in attendance. These Games featured the first Nicholas Cup, a transplant recipient children's ski race, named in honor of 7 year old Nicholas Green who died in a tragic accident and whose organs saved the lives of seven recipients.
The 5th Winter World Transplant Games, were held January 18th-25th, 2004, in Bormio, Italy attended by 13 Team USA members (athletes and supporters).
The 2008 Winter World Transplant Games were held March 25-30th in Rovaniemi, Finland. With 19 athletes and 17 supporters in attendance, Team USA competed against 20 countries and over 250 fellow transplant recipients while earning eighteen medals and placing eighth overall! Competition. Team USA looks forward to compete in the next Winter Games, which has not yet been determined..
Future World Transplant Games
The 17th World Transplant Games will be held on the Gold Coast of Australia from August 22-29, 2009. For more information, visit the official 2009 World Transplant Games website at http://www.worldtransplantgames09.com.
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