History

The World Transplant Games have been in existence for more than 25 years. The first Transplant Games were held in Portsmouth, United Kingdom, in 1978 - an international event with teams from France, Germany, Greece, United Kingdom and the United States competing. Since these early beginnings with some 99 competitors, the Games have grown and now attract up to 1'500 competitors from up to 56 countries. The Winter Games are held every two years and in the intervening years, the Summer Games are held.

There are up to 70 member countries of the World Transplant Games Federation, most of who have their own National Transplant Sports organisations. In addition there are now Regional Games, including the European, Middle East, Asia Games, with South American and African Games planned for the future.

The World Transplant Games are the single biggest organ donation & transplantation awareness event in the world and the ideal way of showing the world what a difference organ donation can make. To be eligible to attend the World Transplant Games, the World Transplant Games Federation accepts athletes with the following transplants: kidney, liver, heart, lung (single or double), bone marrow or pancreas.

Previous winter Games

2010 Sainte Foy Tarentaise, France
2008 Rovaniemi, Finland
2004 Bormio, Italy
2001 Nendaz, Switzerland
1999 Snowbird, USA
1996 Pra-Loup, France
1994 Tignes, France