About the Transplant Games

The World Transplant Games are Olympic-style athletic competitions for organ transplant recipients from all over the world. The purpose of the event is to promote organ donation worldwide.

The World Transplant Games Federation (WTGF) oversees these events, which are staged every other year. National competitions are held on the opposite year. Several issues of the Journal of the WTGF are available on TransWeb.

The XII World Transplant Games in Budapest are organized by the Hungarian Transplant Federation (Magyar Transzplantáltak Kulturális és Sportegyesületének). Information is also available at the MTSE web site at http://www.mtse.hu.

About Budapest, from the organizers (MTSE)

The capital of Hungary is Budapest. The country is located in the middle of Europe in the Carpithian basin. The history of the people of Hungary goes back to a few thousand years, and we will celebrate the 1100th anniversary of the foundation of the Hungarian state next year. Transplant athletes will sample much of our ancient culture during the Games. The venues of these events will feature the beautiful sights of the capital. This is one of the most attractive cities in Europe. The river Danube divides the city in two: the hilly western part with the Castle of Buda and the flat part where Pest can be found. The location of the city offers unique views from:

• the Gellert hill or the Castle of Buda, which served as residence of the historic kings of the past
• the picturesque bridges that connect the two banks of the river, which can be enumerated from here, including the Szecheny Chainbridge, Elisabeth-bridge, Liberty-bridge
• a significant sight of Pest, the building of the Parliament. Neaby runs the first subway of Europe namely the "Crust railway."

WORLD TRANSPLANT GAMES FEDERATION INFORMATION

The World Transplant Games is a multi-disciplinary sporting event held every two years under the auspices of the World Transplant Games Federation (WTGF) and is open to recipients of a functioning life-saving organ or solid tissue transplant--bone marrow recipients are included.

The purpose of the World Transplant Games is to promote the importance of organ donation and the success of transplantation through the demonstration of athletic excellence in the area of sport and competition.

Over 43 countries have been invited to compete, bringing their very best transplant athletes to represent their nations, each vying for gold, silver and bronze medals.

General Eligibility and Entry Information

Each individual must meet the following criteria to be eligible to compete:

• All participants must adhere to the policies of the World Transplant Games Federation;
  
  
• Participation is open to any individual who has received a successful, fully-functioning, life-saving organ or solid tissue transplant (bone marrow included);
  
  
• Competitors must have been transplanted at least 12 months prior to competition--six months may be considered pending medical evaluation and approval by the WTGF Medical Committee;
  
  
• Competitors must be medically fit with no significant complications of chronic organ failure or immunosuppressive therapy. (WTGF Medical Committee has the right to refuse entries as they deem appropriate and/or can terminate participation at any time on-site);
  
  
• Each participant must also obtain medical approval indicating his/her level of physical capacity and fitness;
  
  
• Competitors must have knowledge, experience and training in the sport(s) in which they are competing. All sports are run under international sport governing bodies rules, except as modified by the WTGF;
  
  
• Team members of all countries (including accompanying persons) are expected to conduct themselves in an appropriate manner at all times during the Games. Failure to do so, or acting in a manner which is unbecoming to a Team or against WTGF rules and regulations can lead to immediate disqualification and possible disbarment from future transplant athletic events;
  
  
• Athletes will compete for gold, silver and bronze medals. The number of medals awarded will be determined by the number of entries as follows: 1-3 competitors, gold; 4 competitors, gold and silver; 5 or more competitors, gold, silver, and bronze. Athletes will compete in the following age categories: Adult (18 to 34), Senior (35 to 44), Veterans (45 to 54) and Super Veteran (55 plus). Juniors may compete in Athletics and Swimming. If a 16 or 17 year old wishes to enter the Adult Category in a sport they may do so only if they are very proficient at that particular sport. (Juniors do not compete for medals and do not count as part of the official team. Awards and trophies will be given.)