![*** NO REPRODUCTION FEE *** DUBLIN : 24/8/2019 : Team Ireland returns home from World Transplant Games with mighty haul of 50 medals. Pictured was Transplant Team Ireland team members arriving back to Dublin Airport from the World Transplant Games 2019 held in Newcastle Gateshead, UK. 38 members of Transplant Team Ireland returned home this weekend from an unforgettable week-long World Transplant Games which were held in Newcastle Gateshead, UK. The Irish team including heart, lung, liver, bone marrow and kidney transplant recipients, which ranges in age from 16 to 81, had a final medals tally of 50 medals including 17 Gold, 18 Silver and 15 Bronze which earned them a respectable 11th place on the leader board amongst 56 countries some with larger teams and the host country GB&NI was placed first with its 320 participants. The team's participation at the games was managed by the Irish Kidney Association who are hoping to attract more people to the team when they host the 2020 European Transplant & Dialysis Sports Championships in Dublin from 2-9 August. Picture Conor McCabe Photography.
MEDIA CONTACT : Gwen O'Donoghue mob. 086 8241447 email gwenodonoghue1@gmail.com](https://ika.ie/wp-content/uploads/bb-plugin/cache/CMC8979-174-circle.jpg)
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Transplant Team Ireland
Physical health is a big part of keeping well whilst living with kidney disease, and after transplantation. The Irish Kidney Association's Sports Programme began as a way to encourage kidney patients to be more active and as a way for people to meet others in similar situations, and has now become one of our most positive vehicles for promoting organ donor awareness.
Transplant & Dialysis Sport brings together the gift of life offered so generously by the donors, and their families, and the strength of the human spirit as shown by the athletes.
Now a team of over 80 members, Transplant Team Ireland has competed all over the world; we are internationally recognised as one of the most successful and enjoyable teams to be a part of.
Members must be dialysis patients or transplant recipients. This includes kidney, heart, lung, liver, pancreas and bone marrow transplants. Our main team members must be over-18 but there are occasional events for younger patients so get in touch for more information!
No! The Irish Kidney Association hosts team training once per month in Dublin, but attendance is not mandatory. The only cost to you would be if you choose to travel to competitions with the team, in which case you can fundraise for your fees if you wish.
The list is growing all the time! You don't have to be an athlete - or even have played sports before at all - to get involved. The sports we play include:
- Swimming
- Ten Pin Bowling
- Athletics (track and field)
- Darts
- Cycling
- Golf
- Pétanque (French boules)
- Tennis
- Table Tennis
- Badminton
- Squash
- Archery
- Volleyball
We also have a newly formed Football Team. You can try out as many of the sports as you'd like, even ones you've never played before.
Want to get involved?
Contact our Team Manager Colin White
colin@ika.ie | 087 684 3644