Competition Information
FOR ATHLETES ONLY
“The competitive events were awesome. The athletes came in all shapes and sizes with varying degrees of ability. Everyone was there to celebrate life and to show the world what’s possible after a transplant. Those who needed help to cross the finish line and those who came in last receive the loudest cheers for their courage, effort, and perseverance.” – Gaea Shaw
Eligibility
The U.S. Transplant Games 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 drugs. The recipient’s most recent transplant must have been functioning for at least six months. International athletes are welcome to compete, but will only earn duplicate medals in an international division. All competitors must be medically approved by their physician in order to compete. No competitor will be permitted to compete without the receipt of a properly completed medical waiver signed by the professional responsible for his or her medical care.
General Rules & Format
Athletes will compete by gender in the following age groups: 17 and under, 18-29, 30-39, 40-49, 50-59, 60-69, and 70 and over. If there are fewer than eight individuals or in special cases, age groups may be combined in the interests of competition and meet management; however, combining age groups does not affect the awarding of medals (if sufficient competitors). Age categories are determined by the competitor’s age on the day of Opening Ceremonies, June 17, 2006. In badminton, bowling, table tennis, and certain events in swimming and track and field, there will be special competitions for athletes under 14 years of age (subcategories 2-5, 6-9, 10-13). There will be a separate heat or bracket for each age group if eight or more individuals compete. In doubles events, if the members of a team are in different age groups, the team will be classified in the more competitive age group. If one of the players is a junior and the team would normally be assigned to the junior category, it will play in the adult category. All events have a maximum number of competitors. Entries will be processed on a first-come, first-served basis. When the maximum number is reached, no additional entries will be allowed in that event.
Athletes may register for a maximum of four (4) competition events. The 5K Road Race, all team events (3 on 3 basketball, volleyball, team bowling and team golf), and the swimming and track relay events do not count toward the four event limit.
Athletes may not enter events that take place at the same time (except field events contested cafeteria style). Failure of an athlete to appear at any event when called may result in the athlete being scratched or eliminated from that competition. There will be no appeal of any disqualification for failure to appear.
Seeding, if necessary, will be based on (in order) 2004 U.S. Games medalists; 2005 World Games medalists; other pertinent information
Medals are awarded for first, second, and third place in each age group. In sports which involved classification before competition (racquet sports, volleyball), duplicate bronze medals will be awarded to losing semifinalists, unless there is a means to clearly classify the competitors prior to the start of the elimination round(s) (for instance, the number of players in an age group is sufficiently small to conduct the competition by pools or round robin, or a seeding round is possible).
A virtual triathlon is being staged as a demonstration event at the 2006 U.S. Transplant Games. Demonstration sports are non-medal events staged to determine the interest and feasibility of becoming a permanent part of the Games. To participate in the virtual triathlon, athletes must enter the following three events: 400 meter freestyle swim, 5K road race, and the 20K cycling. The order of finish will be determined by adding together the results of these three events, with the lowest elapsed time winning.
