Summer and winter sports alternate years and the event is open to anyone who has received a solid organ transplant including liver, heart, lung, kidney, pancreas or bone marrow. The idea is that people who receive these organs need to take immunosuppressants for the rest of their lives and since such drugs affect athletic performance, the games were started to give donors a level playing field.[1]
History
The games started in 1978 in Portsmouth, England with about 100 athletes from the UK, France, Germany, Greece and the United States.
The 2023 games in Perth, Australia include competitors from more than 60 countries and include events over seven days such as cycling, swimming, darts, bowling and more.[2] There are ceremonies during each of the games to honor the families of the deceased and living donors.[1]
Nicholas Cup : Slalom Race for Children (A Ski Event for Transplanted Children)
SPORTS – DONORS
(including deceased donor families and living donors)
• Road Race
• 50m Freestyle
• Athletics:
100m sprint, ball throw, long jump
worldtransplantgames.org/sports/
worldtransplantgames.org/sports-rules/
Age Groups
Seniors age groups:
(18-29), (30-39), (40-49), (50-59), (60-69), (70-79) and (80+). Doubles events: (18-29), (30-49) and (50+).
Juniors age groups:
(5 years and under), (6-8), (9-11), (12-14) and (15-17). Juniors 16 or 17 years of age are permitted to compete in adult age events, but must then compete only in adult events.