Colin White (Irish team manager); Irish team at the close of the 2008 European Transplant & Dialysis Games in Wurzburg, Germany; and Games Ambassador Eamonn Coghlan pictured with Stoyanka Ananieva (Bulgaria) and Darren Cawley (Ireland) at the Games launch The organisers of this year’s European Transplant & Dialysis Games in Dublin have been boosted by news of their acceptance into the Federation of Irish Sports.
The organisers of this year’s European Transplant & Dialysis Games in Dublin have been boosted by news of their acceptance into the Federation of Irish Sports.
The National Governing Bodies of sport established the Federation of Irish Sports in 2002 to act as a representative body for sporting organisations in Ireland.
Over 350 transplant and dialysis athletes from 24 European countries will converge on Dublin from August 8th-15th for the European Games.
The Irish Kidney Association, who organise transplant and dialysis sports in Ireland, are delighted with their recognition as an Associate Member of the Federation.
“We have been attending international transplant and dialysis sports events for many years, and we have fared extremely well at every Games. One of our best performances came at the World Transplant Games in Bangkok in 2007, when 23 athletes picked up 39 medals, and, upon returning home, the whole team was feted by President Mary McAleese at a special function in Áras an Uachtaráin,” said Colin White, the Irish team manager and chairman of the organising committee 2010 European Transplant & Dialysis Games.
He added: “By staging this year’s European Games, we aim to give transplant and dialysis athletes in Ireland the opportunity to compete in their own country. We are getting a huge response from athletes and we hope to have at least 40 members on the Irish team, which would be a record high for us.
“The European Transplant & Dialysis Games take place every second year. At the 2008 Games, in Wurzburg, Germany, we finished third on the medals table from 24 competing countries. We brought home a total of 42 medals.
“However, the key message for us is the importance of organ donation. That’s what we constantly promote, and these Games will help to spread that message far and wide.”
A special website has been built – www.2010newlife.com – where supporters can follow the build-up to the Games. This is also the area would-be athletes should visit to register for the Games.
For an organ donor card, FREETEXT the word ‘DONOR’ to 50050.
Some facts about the Games
- These are the 6th European Transplant & Dialysis Games. They take place from August 8th-15th in Dublin.
- Over 350 athletes from 24 countries will take part
- Athletes taking part will have received a transplant of one, or a combination, of the following: kidney, liver, heart, pancreas, lungs, and bone marrow, or else will be receiving dialysis treatment
- The European Transplant & Dialysis Games take place every second year. At the 2008 Games, in Wurzburg, Germany, the Irish team finished third on the medals table from 24 competing countries. Ireland brought home a total of 42 medals
