Games Events & Activities for Family, Friends & Other Supporters

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A Family Member, Friend or Other Supporter is a family member or friend of athletes and/or living donors, or Games attendee who does not fit into any of the other registration categories.

Games Expo
Tuesday, July 27 from 3:00 pm to 8:00 pm;
Wednesday, July 28 from 8:00 am to 3:00 pm

Minneapolis Convention Center
For the first two days, Games attendees can participate in fun and educational activities; visit with games sponsors and exhibitors; and more.

Opening Ceremonies
Wednesday, July 28 from 7:30 pm

Hubert H Humphrey Metrodome
The official opening of the Games and the nation’s 50th Anniversary Celebration of transplantation! The athlete procession, lighting of the torch, tribute to donors and raising of the flag will be held at the HHH Metrodome, a Minnesota landmark & home to the Minnesota Twins (Major League Baseball) and Minnesota Vikings (National Football League)! Come join Dr. Joseph Murray, honorary Chairman of the 2004 Games, along with celebrity guests and the entire transplant community family for this momentous celebration with a Minnesota flair!

Athlete Village
Thursday, July 29 from 8:00 am to 11:00 pm;
Friday, July 30 from 8:00 am to 11:00 pm;
Saturday, July 31 from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm

Coffman Memorial Union
Event Results and meet-and-greet boards will be available to participants at the air conditioned Athlete’s Village as well as lounge areas, meeting places and food concessions. Take a breather and meet up with friends and family at the center of all the action! Games transportation hub, University Residences and campus sports venues are just a stone’s throw away…

Games General Store
Tuesday, July 27 and Wednesday, July 28;
Minneapolis Convention Center;
Thursday, July 29 through Saturday, July 31

Minneapolis Convention Center & Radisson Metrodome hotel
“All I Got From the Games Was…” Pick up 2004 Games merchandise celebrating the Golden Anniversary of transplantation, Donor Family/Living Donor memorabilia and much more at the Games General Store.

Kids’ Time
Thursday, July 29*; Friday, July 30; Saturday, July 31

University of Minnesota and additional venues
Children of all ages attending the Games can join in the fun, with an off-site excursion to Como Zoo and O’Neill’s Amusement Park along with fun-filled events, games, sports and activities at Kids’ Time. There’s something for children to participate in on all three competition days at Kids’ Time. All children are welcome at Kids' Time, but an adult must accompany them. Please note: Parents competing in the Games may want to consider a "buddy system" with other team members to watch each other's children during their respective competitions, as there is no daycare available during at the Games.

Donor Recognition Ceremony
Thursday, July 29 from 2:00 pm to 4:00 pm

Cathedral of Saint Paul
All Games participants are invited to attend the Ceremony and will be seated on a first-come, first-served basis. For those who have purchased a games package, buses will be available from the MAC Plaza to transport Games participants to the Cathedral.

The Donor Recognition Ceremony is a special tribute to our loved ones who donated organs or tissues at the time of death. The Ceremony will feature a video tribute to donors, music and readings to honor donors and their families, and reflections from transplant recipients whose lives were changed dramatically from the precious gift of donation. All Games participants are encouraged to come and honor donor families at this ceremony. Please note that there will be a separate recognition event to honor living donors.

Tribute to the Pioneers of Transplantation*
Thursday, July 29 from 7:30 pm

TBA
Dr. Joseph Murray and other transplant pioneers will be honored at this once-in-a-lifetime event to benefit transplantation and the Games. Limited tickets available.

Coffee House
Thursday, July 29 from 8:00 pm to 11:00 pm

The Great Hall at Coffman Memorial Union
Enjoy a cup of coffee at this open mic forum for donor families, living donors, recipients and transplant professionals. Participants can share their experiences through stories, personal thoughts, poems, songs, or other creative ways.

Social Lounge
Thursday, July 29 from 8:00 pm to 11:00 pm
and Friday, July 30 from 8:00 pm to 11:00 pm

University of Minnesota
The "Games After Dark" offers refreshments and nightly entertainment in the middle of it all, at the University. Join others to relax, mingle with other Games participants, recount the day, sing karaoke, and make new friends. Have fun and enjoy a taste of Minneapolis!

Triumph Movie Fest
Thursday, July 29 from 11:00 am to 10:00 pm;
Friday, July 30 from 11:00 am to 4:00 pm;
Saturday, July 31 from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm

University of Minnesota, The Theater @ Coffman Memorial Union
A new feature of the 2004 Games, the Triumph and Transplant film festival will feature films with organ donation / transplantation themes and movies celebrating triumph in the face of hardship. Sit back, relax and take some time out to be inspired, learn something new or just see the world in a new perspective. Theater concessions will be open during Festival hours.

Living Donor Recognition Event
Friday, July 30 from 2:30 pm – 4:30 pm

Northrop Auditorium
All are welcome to join us to recognize the generosity and spirit of our nation’s living donors. This inspiring program will include readings, music, and special tributes.

Sharing Session for Living Donors
Friday, July 30 from 9:00 am to 10:30 am

Radisson Hotel Metrodome
Living donors are invited to join together to share their unique experiences. How have you coped with recovery? How has your family reacted to your gift? Are you getting enough support? Come share in this safe environment. Please note: This session is for living donors only.

Sharing Session for Family Members/Friends of Living Donors (Including Recipients)
Friday, July 30 from 9:00 am to 10:30 am

Radisson Hotel Metrodome
Family and friends may be affected in very different ways by a loved one’s decision to donate. Whether you’re the recipient of the gift, a spouse, son, daughter, brother, parent, sister or neighbor, come share how you have coped with this life-changing event. Please note: this session is only for family/friends of living donors.

Things With Wings Gift Shop

Be sure to visit the Things With Wings Gift Shop to browse keepsake items featuring butterflies, angels, dragonflies and doves. All proceeds support donor family projects of the National Donor Family Council. Locations and times will be announced at the Games.

Quilt Pinning Ceremony
Friday, July 30 from 8:00 pm to 11:00 pm

The Great Hall at Coffman Memorial Union
Patches of Love: The National Donor Family Quilt commemorates the love and lives of those who have given the Gift of Life through organ and/or tissue donation. Since 1995, almost 1,800 families have created patches to remember and honor their loved ones.

During a special Quilt Pinning, National Donor Family Council (NDFC) volunteers will help families pin their own “Patches of Love” to the newest Quilt panel. As they pin the commemorative patches, family members can share a few words about their loved ones through a story, memory or poem. If you choose to share something, you may find it helpful to write something ahead of time so that you or an NDFC volunteer can share it with participants.

Patches must be an 8” x 8” square, allowing for a ½” margin on all four sides (design should be within 7”). Patches that are larger or smaller than the designated size cannot be included, and will be returned. For a detailed brochure on how to make a patch, please call the NKF Information Center at (800) 622-9010. Please note: The Quilt is designed to memorialize those who have donated organs and/or tissues upon their deaths.

5K Race for Organ & Tissue Donation Awareness*
Saturday, July 31 from 7:00 am to 8:30 am

Minneapolis-St.Paul
Walk, Jog or Run…Join us at your own pace, in the name of Organ & Tissue Donation at the 5K Race for Organ & Tissue Donation Awareness, a road race for transplant recipients, family members, friends, transplant professionals, donor families and the local community. There is a separate registration and fee for Games’ non-athletes and members of the general public who wish to participate in this event. Registration for the 5K Race will be available online.

Program Journal Tributes

Donor families and family members of living donors are invited to submit a written tribute to their loved ones who gave the gift of life (both deceased and living donors). Tributes will be published in the 2004 U.S. Transplant Games Program Journal. Please note that only one tribute can be submitted per donor. Tributes must be 35 words or less and indicate the donor and family members' names clearly (names are not counted in the limit). Tributes exceeding 35 words characters will be edited.

Closing Ceremonies & Closing Party
Saturday, July 31 from 6:30 pm to 11:00 pm

Minneapolis Convention Center
The official closing of the Games and traditional passing of the flag. The Jerry Cound Outstanding Athlete awards and other special awards will be given.

Dancing Through the Decades Closing Party*
Saturday, July 31 from 6:30 pm to 11:00 pm

Minneapolis Convention Center
A special celebration of the last five decades to celebrate the 50^th Anniversary of Transplantation for Games participants, following the Closing Ceremonies. Get out your poodle skirt, tie-dyed T’s, and disco threads for this trip down memory lane…fun for all ages! Featuring Celebrity Look-Alike contests, Vintage Cars, Decade Theme lounges, Dance Contests (jitterbug, alley-cat, etc.)

Donor-Recipient Golf Outing*
Sunday, August 1 from 8:00 am to 1:00 pm

Les Bolstad Golf Course
FORE! Join transplant recipients, living donors, donor families, transplant professionals and friends - the Donor-Recipient Golf Outing is open to everyone! Prizes for Best Ball, Longest Drive and more will be awarded. Additional registration and fee are required; includes green fees, golf cart and lunch. Registration for the Golf Outing will be available online.

*Additional fees are required for the Closing Party, Kids’ Time (Thursday, July 29th only), 5K Race for Organ and Tissue Donation Awareness (excluding Games athletes), and Donor-Recipient Golf Outing.

Registration for the 2004 U.S. Transplant Games is now closed. Please come to the Games Registration & Expo at the Minneapolis Convention Center to purchase daily admisson passes and Games Shuttle Pass or Closing Party tickets (based on availability) on Tuesday, 7/27/04, 3pm- 8pm and Wednesday, 7/28/04, 8am- 3pm.