The World Transplant Games (WTG) are an international multi-sport event, occurring every two years, organized by the World Transplant Games Federation (WTGF). The Games promote amateur sport amongst organ transplant recipients, living donors and donor families.
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.
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. There are ceremonies during each of the games to honor the families of the deceased and living donors.
Summer Games Source:
In 1987 and 2017 the World Transplant Games Federation was officially formed.
Now has nearly 70 member countries.
2013 and 2021 Recognized by IOC.
YearGamesHostDatesNationsAthletesRef19781 Portsmouth, Great Britain510019792 Portsmouth, Great Britain19803 New York City, United States19824 Athens, Greece19845 Amsterdam, Netherlands19876 Innsbruck, Austria19897 Singapore19918 Budapest, Hungary19939 Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada199510 Manchester, Great Britain199711 Sydney, Australia199912 Budapest, Hungary200113 Kobe, Japan200314 Nancy, France200515 London, Ontario, Canada200716 Bangkok, Thailand200917 Gold Coast, Australia201118 Gothenburg, Sweden201319 Durban, South Africa201520 Mar del Plata, Argentina 23 – 30 August 44 1,110 201721 Málaga, Spain 25 June – 2 July 52 2,500201922 Newcastle upon Tyne and Gateshead, Great Britain 17 – 23 August 60 2,400202123 5K AnyWay (2021 Games set for Houston cancelled) Virtual202324 Perth, Australia 15 – 21 April 202525 Dresden, Germany 16 – 23 August 202726 Leuven, Belgium 1 – 8 August
Winter Games Source: YearGamesHostDatesNationsAthletesRef19941 Tignes, France19962 Pra-Loup, France19993 Snowbird, Utah, United States20014 Nendaz, Switzerland20045 Bormio, Italy20086 Rovaniemi, Finland20107 Sainte-Foy-Tarentaise, France20128 Anzere, Switzerland20149 La Chapelle-d'Abondance, France2016- not held 201810 Anzère, Switzerland 7–12 January 202011 Banff, Alberta, Canada 23–28 February 2022(Postponed) 202412 Bormio, Italy 3–8 March
Sports Source:worldtransplantgames.org/sports/worldtransplantgames.org/sports-rules/ Youth and Core Sports 19 Youth Sports: 10 Summer + 9 Winter Sports
20 Core Sports: 14 Summer + 6 Winter Sports
Summer: Badminton, Bowling, Cycling, Darts, Golf, Petanque, Road Running, Squash, Swimming, Track & Field, Table Tennis, Tennis, 3 on 3 Basketball, Volleyball
Winter: Curling, Biathlon, Skiing, Snowboarding, Cross Country, Snowshoeing
All Sports
Summer: Athletics Athletics (road race) Swimming Cycling Kayak Badminton Table tennis Paddle tennis Tennis Squash Triathlon Bowling Darts Golf Lawn bowls Pétanque Tejo 3x3 basketball Volleyball
Winter: Biathlon Curling Snowboarding Skiing Slalom Giant Slalom Super Giant Slalom Parallel Slalom 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
Records Results & Awards
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.
Medals Source: Summer 1978: 99 competitors UK, France, Germany, Greece and the USA.
2011: Sweden 17-24 June, 2011 Team UK 115 Gold, 94 Silver and 77 Bronze medals
2013:
2015:
2017:
2019:
2021:
2023:
2025:
Winter 2020: 2020 World Transplant Winter Games, Banff, AB - Complete Sports Results
2024: 12th World Transplant Winter Games 2024Medal Tally - 12th World Transplant Winter Games 2024 – Bormio, Italy
References
External links Official website Results and Medal Table