World Transplant Games begins in Perth

Perth is hosting the World Transplant Games from April 15 – 21, where transplant donors, recipients and their families from across the world will see people make the most of their donations.

Over 1,500 athletes and supporters from over 50 countries will take to the city to participate in the world’s largest sporting event of its kind.

Many given a second chance at life through the generosity and kindness of donors will compete in a range of sports, including athletics, basketball, swimming, tennis, cycling, sprinting and a triathlon.

For Liver recipient Jake Prince, the 2000th person in Australia to receive the lifesaving organ transplant, he has been able to attend the gym five times a week and meet many other participants in the lead-up to the event.

Jake will compete as a swimmer, athlete and cyclist on the world stage at the age of 16, after receiving treatment at 13 for a genetic deficiency, which would leave him unwilling to eat on a regular basis.

The World Transplant Games Summer and Winter events are held every two years, alternating between seasons, with the Games Federation itself affiliated with the International Olympic Committee.

The Perth Games is the 24th World Transplant Federation organised event and the third held in Australia, as Sydney hosted the Games in 1997 and the Gold Coast did so in 2009.

Since the first event in 1978, the seven-day series of amateur and elite sports has encouraged many that have given and received to celebrate life by fulfilling their full potential.

To participate, recipients must have had the transplant for at least one year, been actively training and have medical approval to take part, although under certain circumstances, the medical committee may choose to accept applications from those that have received the transplant within a year.

However, donors and families of donors can show their support through competing in Lawn Bowls, Darts, Golf Pairs, Petanque singles, 5km road race, 50m freestyle swim, 100m athletics sprint, ball throw, long jump 3km racewalk (woman) and 5km racewalk (Men).

As a gift from Transplant Australia and the Australian Government, The Gift of Life Baton will be presented at the closing ceremony on April 21, after it had been launched in Olympic House in October of last year, as an international icon for the event.

Altruistic Donor Gordon Rutty and Gold Coast charity, The Pride of Bettermen and Lionesses have spent the lead up to the games covering Australia on motorcycle across a 4,600km route called The Gift of Life Baton Tour, starting in Surfers Paradise on April 5.

Perth industrial design company Form Design were tasked with creating the baton, which will be a future staple of World Transplant Games events.

“Form Designs Australia were honoured to be involved in the development of this important, iconic symbol,” said Principal Edward Khoury.

“It was with great pleasure that we could be part of this initiative supporting the Gift of Life.

“Form Designs have been involved in industrial design for four decades and have developed many global products but nothing as remarkable as this.”

For more information about the World Transplant Games in Perth, please visit the website or check out our recent article on the Paralympic Games, which touches on the role impairment plays in sport.