Coventry set to stage the 32nd British Transplant Games
Last updated 04/05/2009 11:52:28
Coventry set to stage the 32nd British Transplant Games
Coventry are set to follow Sheffield in staging the 32nd Westfield Health British Transplant Games between July 30 and August 2. It will be the first time the city has hosted the national competition.
The 2009 Games, organised by the charity Transplant Sport UK (TSUK), are set to build on the success of last year's Games, which took place in Sheffield, with 900 transplant athletes aged from two to 82 are already in training for the event. Around 1,500 visitors are expected to arrive at the city to take part and support the transplant athletes.
Coventry offers visitors the best of both worlds; from the vibrancy and excitement of the city, to the peace and tranquillity of the countryside. As well as being a bustling, modern city, Coventry also offers the heritage of its mediaeval cathedral and surrounding historical towns, nestled in the breathtaking scenery of Warwickshire. The Games Village will be centred at University of Warwick and will provide a fantastic centre for this year's event.
This vibrant, cosmopolitan city will provide a stunning backdrop for the Games with lots for visitors to see and do not only in Warwick but also nearby Stratford –upon- Avon and Birmingham. The evidence shows that the number of people signing on to the Organ Donor Register increases in the region where the Games are held.
Last year some 2,800 lives were saved or massively improved thanks to the generosity and courage of donors and their families. However, but while the number of people waiting for a transplant in the UK is on the rise, the number of potential donors is falling.
The aim of the Games is:
*To raise awareness of the ongoing need for organ donation.
* Registration to the NHS organ Donor Register which can be made at http://www.uktransplant.org.uk/ or by calling 0300 123 2323.
*To encourage people with a potentially fatal condition to live life to the full.
* Give thanks to organ donor families.
* Enthuse further research in organ transplantation