We had a brilliant time in Newcastle and Gateshead at the weekend. We were visiting to cheer on our friend, minigolf rival and GB international athlete John Moore in the 2019 World Transplant Games.
The World Transplant Games is a multi-sports event with thousands of athletes from 53 countries competing in 16 sports. Sporting events range from Archery and Athletics to Darts, Football and Golf to Tenpin Bowling, Squash, Swimming and Volleyball.
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| It was brilliant to see all of the World Transplant Games signs, banners and activity around Newcastle and Gateshead |
The 2019 World Transplant Games are the 22nd edition and the first in the UK since the Manchester Games in 1995.
We've previously been to the British Transplant Games in Newcastle, Liverpool and Birmingham.
The Games were created to be a celebration of a second chance of life, and to demonstrate the success of transplant surgery while also promoting the need to raise public awareness of organ and tissue donation.
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| I got some very nice pins for my sporting badge collection at the Games |
There are currently around 6,080 people on the transplant waiting list including around 150 children and teenagers. On average three people die every day who could have benefited from an organ transplant.
If you want to save lives through organ donation and join the NHS Organ Donor Register it only takes a few minutes to sign up. Do ask your family and friends whether they want to be donors too.
After a healthy walk it was nice to get to heart of the city to see the Athlete's Parade through Newcastle on Saturday afternoon.
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| A snap with the Games mascot Hope at the Athlete's Parade |
With the athletics getting underway on Sunday John got off to a winning start, with victory in the 5k Road Race in both the individual and team categories.
Emily and I also took part in the Gift of Life 5k Run at Exhibition Park and the Town Moor on Sunday.
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| After the 5k run |
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| The Gift of Life Run was my second 5k, after the Donor Run at last year's British Transplant Games in Birmingham. I felt a lot better this time and really need to run some more |
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| Another day and another photo with Hope the mascot |
While having a lovely walk around Newcastle and Gateshead on Saturday we found the Petanque Boulodrome and watched a bit of the practice.
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| The upper terrain |
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| Petanque players practicing on the middle terrain |
We enjoy playing petanque and it was superb to see the game being played at the World Transplant Games.
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| Australian players practicing on the third terrain |
The petanque terrains had been created on a car park and the approach to the Sage Gateshead music centre. It looked like it had been turned into a really good spot to play the tournament. A great use of a car park.
Our friend Kay, John's sister, is a volunteer at the Games and one of the sports she has been assigned is Petanque.
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| A view of the two lower terrains |
Events are taking place across Newcastle, Gateshead and Sunderland until Friday 23rd August. For more information visit the World Transplant Games website.
Links:
- World Transplant Games 2019
- Join the NHS Organ Donor Register
