British Transplant Games set for 2023 Coventry return

The Westfield Health British Transplant Games will return to Coventry in the summer of 2023. It was confirmed earlier this month that the 2020 British Transplant Games had been cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The University of Warwick’s Sport and Wellness Hub was set to host the event this summer.

The decision to cancel this summer’s event was made with the full support of the Games’ key stakeholders including sponsors Westfield Health, KidneyCareUK, Donor Family Network, Anthony Nolan and NHS Blood and Transplant, as well as the local partners and supporters.

Transplant Sport, the largest UK charity promoting the importance of staying active post-transplant, has also confirmed that the next British Transplant Games will take place in Leeds in the summer of 2021.

The University’s Director of Sport and Active Communities, Lisa Dodd-Mayne said: “We are very pleased that all partners have made a further commitment to bring the Games back to the City and the University in the summer of 2023. We can build on the profile we have generated to date and make the Transplant Games a major legacy event following on from Coventry’s 2021 City of Culture and the 2022 Commonwealth Games.”

Families are more likely to support organ donation when they know that is what their relative wanted to do

The British Transplant Games aims to demonstrate the benefits of transplantation, encouraging transplant patients to regain fitness, whilst increasing public awareness of the need for donation conversations so that loved ones are fully aware of your wishes. Families are more likely to support organ donation when they know that is what their relative wanted to do, according to the event’s organisers.

“The wellbeing and safety of our Transplant Sport community is our priority”, said Dr Paul Harden, Chairman of Transplant Sport. “With all transplant recipients in isolation until the end of June, it is not possible for them to prepare for the Games and it is clear that as a vulnerable group, isolation and social distancing will be an ongoing issue for them for a continued period of time.  In addition, many of the Games volunteers work within the NHS and supporting networks”, added Dr Harden.

The Transplant Games has joined a growing list of sporting events and fixtures that have been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. In recent weeks the Coventry Half-Marathon, Coventry City and Wasps fixtures were postponed or suspended, while Coventry Blaze’s EIHL season was halted by the pandemic.