|
Athletics legend Eamonn Coghlan today (SATURDAY) started the countdown to a novel event that will see over 400 transplant and dialysis athletes from all over Europe converge on Dublin during its reign as the European Capital of Sport next year.
 The Irish team in Dublin Airport, following their record-breaking exploits at the European Transplant & Dialysis Games in Germany, 2008
Every athlete at the Games, which will be centred on Dublin City University from August 8th-15th, has either received a transplant or is currently on dialysis while awaiting a transplant. The athletes are a fabulous justification for organ donation and advertisement of the success of transplantation and it is hoped that in bringing the Games to Ireland that the general public will be inspired to carry an organ donor card and discuss their wishes with their next-of-kin. “Over 400 athletes will come to Dublin from 24 countries. Many of them will celebrate the gift of life as they will be competing with a new kidney, liver, pancreas, heart or lungs, while others will manage to find the time and enthusiasm to train and compete while on dialysis,” said Mr. Coghlan.
“It will be a phenomenal European Games. The Irish Team has performed brilliantly at recent European and World Games, and hosting these biennial Games will be an immense source of pride for all involved in transplant and dialysis sport in Ireland.
Mr. Coghlan was speaking at today’s launch of the Games at the Guinness Storehouse, which coincided with Dublin hosting the annual General Assembly of the European Transplant & Dialysis Sport Federation. He will serve as a Games ambassador from now until the event itself.
Deputy Lord Mayor of Dublin, Cllr. Kevin Humphreys, expressed his delight that the Games will be held in Dublin and said that he looked forward to welcoming the large contingent of European athletes together with their families and friends to the capital next August. He commended the Irish Kidney Association for winning its bid for Ireland to host the Games, and Ireland team manager Colin White on his recent election to the Council of the World Transplant Games Federation.
Some members of the Irish team, including Team Captain Mick Dwyer, have joined the Local Organising Committee (LOC) for the Games. LOC Chairman, Colin White, said “the dialysis and transplant sports scene is very vibrant across Europe, and this will be an opportunity for Irish people to come and see the enthusiasm and quality of all the athletes”. Mr. White advised that the LOC still has a number of sponsorship opportunities and appealed to the Irish business community to support this landmark event.
Twelve sports, ranging from athletics to volleyball, will feature in the Games, and it is expected that many of Ireland’s leading sporting figures will turn up to witness the excitement for themselves.
Today’s launch was also attended by Dublin senior footballer Bernard Brogan, and GPA chief executive Dessie Farrell, both of whom wished the event every success.
A special website has been built – www.2010newlife.com – where supporters can follow the build-up to 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
• Over 400 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, bone marrow. Or else they will be receiving dialysis treatment
• In 2008, in Wurzburg, Germany, the Irish team finished third on the medals table from 24 competing countries. Ireland brought home a total of 42 medals
|
The News 
Send a 
Visit the Irish Kidney Assocation Website 
