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International delegation heads to North East ahead of World Transplant Games

An international delegation is visiting the North East this week to review preparations for the World Transplant Games which will be hosted in the region in 2019.

Delegates from the World Transplant Games Federation, including President Chris Thomas (Australia), Executive Manager Kim Renyard (South Africa) and Colin White (Ireland), met with members of the Local Organising Committee for the World Transplant Games NewcastleGateshead 2019 to discuss preparation for the games and visited local venues, including Close House, which will play host to the golf in 2019.

The World Transplant Games NewcastleGateshead will take place from 17-24 August 2019, and will be hosted at some of the top sports venues in Tyne and Wear, including Gateshead International Stadium, Sport Central at Northumbria University, Newcastle United F.C and the Sunderland Aquatic Centre.

Chris Thomas, President of the World Transplant Games Federation, said: “The aim of the World Transport Games is to raise awareness of the need for more donors globally, while encouraging transplant patients to regain fitness.

“The North East of England is world renowned for expertise in transplantation and this was among the many reasons that the Federation decided NewcastleGateshead would be a fantastic location to host the World Transplant Games in 2019.

“Equally, thanks to Transplant Sport UK, the country has long been at the forefront of driving the profile and success of transplant sports globally.

“Hosting the World Transplant Games in 2019 is an ideal opportunity to showcase their expertise working with the local organising committee in NewcastleGateshead. It’s brilliant to hear how the preparations are coming along and see how our athletes will be welcomed in 2019.”

NewcastleGateshead was chosen as the World Transplant Games host venue in 2016, beating off stiff competition from Houston, Texas in America.

The summer instalment of the World Transplant Games takes place every two years and was last held in the UK 22 years ago with Manchester as host city. Its return is due in part to NewcastleGateshead’s successful delivery of the 2015 British Transplant Games, described by organisers and participants as “the best-ever”.

Sarah Stewart, chief executive at NewcastleGateshead Initiative, added: “It’s great to be able to welcome members of the World Transplant Games Federation and update them on our preparations for 2019.

“We’re expecting to welcome more than 3,000 participants, including athletes, from more than 50 countries to the North East, all of whom compete following successful organ and tissue transplants.

“It’s our ambition to ensure more people have the opportunity to engage with the World Transplant Games by staging events in public spaces and in world-class sporting facilities across the destination.

“Raising awareness about the importance of organ donation is a key part of staging the Games, which is why we want to make the events, and the athletes, as visible as possible so they can inspire others to sign the organ donor register.”

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