World Transplant Games Federation

The day to day business of WTGF is conducted by a Council which is elected by the country representatives – each Councillor is elected for a period of 4 years. There is an election of councillors every two years at the General Assembly. The Council then appoints a President, Secretary and Treasurer from within the Council.

The General Assembly of all the member countries is held during the Summer World Transplant Games. It is the bi-annual opportunity for all members to meet and discuss issues and make decisions for the future.

About The World Transplant Games

The World Transplant Games is a five-day, multi-sport event held biannually in the odd-numbered years. Organized by the World Transplant Games Federation, the event attracts transplant athletes from around the world.

The first “Transplant Olympics,” organized by British transplant surgeon Maurice Slapak, were held in Portsmouth, England in 1978. Approximately 100 kidney transplant recipients, representing over a dozen countries, gathered in Olympic fashion. In subsequent years, the Transplant Olympics were renamed the World Transplant Games and held in New York, Athens, Amsterdam, Singapore, Budapest, Vancouver and Manchester, each time increasing in size and visibility.

The success of the World Games has served as the catalyst for the development of national games all over the world, including successful programs in Great Britain, Australia and France. In September 2000, the event was given support by the International Olympic Committee President, Juan Antonio Samaranch.

History

The first competitive sporting event for transplant recipients took place in Portsmouth, England in 1978 with around 99 competitors from the UK, France, Germany, Greece and the USA.

Today we hold Summer World Transplant Games every two years and the Winter Games in the intervening years. In 1987 the World Transplant Games Federation was officially formed and now has nearly 70 member countries worldwide.

In 2009, Gold Coast, Australia hosted 39 countries with almost 1,900 participant athletes, support persons, donors and donor family members taking part and in 2007 Bangkok, Thailand were the hosts to 46 countries.

The Winter World Transplant Games include a competition called the Nicholas Cup – an event specifically designed to give transplanted children the opportunity to experience the fun and excitement of skiing for the first time under supervised conditions.

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 may well be dead or have to endure long hours of dialysis as in the case of patients with kidney failure.

The Games embrace all ages, anyone from 4 - 80 years old who qualifies is welcome to participate. There are over 50 events to suit all capabilities including Athletics, 10 pin Bowling, Swimming, Racquet Sports, Golf, Volleyball, Lawn Bowls and Cycling. The standards of these games can be high. The 100metres has a record of 11.18 seconds and the long jump 6.85metres!