Last modified: 11 May 2000
The Guardian Health British Transplant Games lived up to their usual reputation of being a fun gathering of happy, keen transplantees meeting up with old friends, making newfriends and doing some sporting activities in between.
The facilities at Bebington Oval, Europa Pools, Bidston Tennis Centre, Birkenhead Park and Arrowe Park Golf Course were provided free by the Wirral Leisure Services with all the administrative expertise to run the sporting events over three and a half days.
The Games were opened by the Mayor of Wirral at Birkenhead Town Hall receiving the Transplant Torch which had travelled up from Cardiff during National Transplant Week gathering names for the organ donor register. The cycling was taking place at this time at Birkenhead Park.
The athletes were all housed in main hotels in Liverpool - The Adelphi, Gladstone, Atlantic Towers and the children in the Moat House. True to form as this was the Protestant Marching Season and Liverpool being a part of Ireland, there was a bomb scare and the whole of the contents of the Adelphi Hotel at which the Welcome Party was starting disgorged itself onto Lime Street for an hour or so.
There were approximately 700 transplantees, including 200 children who took part from 58 transplant centres. The swimming events were held in the recently opened Europa Pools which also had a great Splash Party for the children. The volleyball, racquet sports (except tennis), the mini marathon, walks, athletics and the children's games were held at the Oval Sports Centre. This venue was used forthe filming of the film Chariots of Fire and when we last held the Games in 1986 and were more than satisfactory for the sporting events, except for the public address system which could not be heard in the stands, so none of the VlP's could hear a word ! Still the enthusiasm of the athletes, organisers and the supporters more than made up for this. There was a free-fall parachute display and helicopter acrobatics to entertain and then the March Past of alI the ath fetes, wh ich brings a tear to the eye of even this hardened veteran of the Games. A timely torrential burst of rain just after the parade emptied the track quicker than ever seen and the sun came out again for the Finals.
The Gala Dinner is always special, including Ross Taylor's speech with all his news, the winners of the trophies, Manchester being the transplant team who won the Rose Bowl for the best transplantteam,the happysmiling faces and "You'll NeverWalkAlone" at 1.00 in the morning. This is being amongst friends.
Thank you all for coming.
Last modified:
11 May 2000