The World
Transplant Games are an Olympics-style competition held every other year
in which recipients of life-saving transplants compete for gold, silver,
and bronze medals in many sports.
For the XI World Transplant Games September 29 - October 5, 1997, athletes are coming from 58 countries around the world. They will meet in beautiful Sydney, Australia, and have the opportunity to use some of the facilities designed and built for the 2000 Olympics.
For more information about the World Transplant Games Federation, please see The Journal of the World Transplant Games Federation .
Find out about "Light up Australia,"
a unique donation awareness event
during which everyone was to turn on their lights Friday, September 26,
at 8 pm!
About Australia: "The
Land, the People" Press Release
TransWeb
For Immediate Release
Contact: transweb@umich.edu
Phone: (Australia) 04-1221.6024 (cellular)
or (Australia) 02-9764-3248
Date: September 28, 1997
World Transplant Games Live on TransWeb
TransWeb, the first web site about organ donation and transplantation, will provide live world wide web coverage of The World Transplant Games September 29 - October 5 in Sydney, Australia. TransWeb's report will include the latest scores, athlete profiles, live audio interviews, daily photos of the day's events, and coverage of the opening and closing ceremonies. The web address for this coverage is: http://www.transweb.org/athletics/world_games/97 .
Over 1,000 athletes will gather in Sydney, Australia to compete in a variety of athletic events at the future site of the 2000 Olympics. Each of the athletes competing in the Games is able to participate this year due to a life-saving transplant of an organ donated by a living or cadaveric donor. An additional 1,000 people are expected to attend the events.
The purpose of these games is captured by Greg Norman, patron of the XI World Transplant Games, in his message to Games athletes: "You, as a competitor, are living proof that it is possible to lead a normal and active life and compete at this level after receiving a transplant. The mere fact that you are competing will act as an inspiration to others. . . . "
Harnessing the power of the internet to bring this event to the world, TransWeb's unprecedented coverage of the World Transplant Games is made possible by the following sponsors: Qantas Airways, Fujisawa USA, Novartis, Total Block SPF 60, The Transplant Society of Michigan, and Grand Aire Express.
TransWeb is a nonprofit educational website housed at the University of Michigan Medical Center. The site's goal is to help educate the world about transplantation and to promote organ and tissue donation. TransWeb is available free, 24 hours a day, and is visited an average of 15,000 times each month.
For information about TransWeb or coverage of the games, contact transweb@umich.edu.
For information on Team USA athletes, contact Kara Callahan or Ellie Schlamm at the National Kidney Foundation, 1-800-622-9010. Callahan and Schlamm can help reporters connect with athletes who will be participating in the games.
Background Information
The XI World Transplant Games Sydney, Australia
September 29-October 5, 1997
The Games attract over 1,000 athletes representing 58 countries including:
--Argentina --Australia --Austria --Bahrain --Belgium --Brazil --Canada --China --Cuba --Cyprus --Czech Republic --Denmark --England --Finland --France --Germany --Greece --Holland --Hong Kong --Hungary --India --Indonesia --Iran --Ireland --Israel --Italy --Japan --Jordan --Kenya --Kuwait --Lebanon --Luxembourg --Malaysia --Mauritius --Mexico --New Zealand --Norway --Pakistan --Phillipines --Poland --Portugal --Qatar --Romania --Russia --Saudi Arabia --Singapore --Slovenia --South Africa --Spain --Sri Lanka --Sweden --Switzerland --Taiwan --Thailand --Tunisia --Ukraine --United States --Vietnam
Athletic Events at the Games:
--Athletics --Badminton --Cycling --Golf --Lawn Bowls --3KM and 5KM Road Race --Squash --Swimming --Table Tennis --Tennis --Ten Pin Bowling --Volleyball
Social Events at the Games:
--Arts and Cultural Evening St. Vincents Hospital, Darlinghurst Sunday 28, Sept. 7:00 p.m.
--Opening Ceremony Sydney Opera House Monday 29, 10:45 a.m. - 1:45 p.m.
--Opening Ceremony (social function) International Overseas Passenger Terminal Following the Opening Ceremony (1:45 p.m.)
--Friday Night BBQ Sydney International Aquatic Centre/Olympic Park, Homebush Bay Friday 3, Oct. 4:45 p.m. - 6:45 p.m.
--Gala Event Dinner Darling Harbour Convention Centre Sunday, 5 Oct. 7:30 p.m.
--Closing Ceremony Sydney International Athletics Centre/Olympic Park, Homebush Bay Sunday 5 Oct. 3:30 p.m. - 4 p.m.
--Letter from Bob Carr, Premier of New SouthWales
--Letter from Greg Norman, patron
--Sponsors
