Fourteen transplant athletes will be attending a training programme this weekend in preparation for the upcoming World Transplant Games, in Perth.
Gauteng, South Africa (24 March 2023) – On Saturday, 25 March 2023, fourteen athletes representing the Gauteng Transplant Sports Association will be participating in a training day at Bryanston Primary School in preparation for competing at the upcoming World Transplant Games, in Perth.
In less than 80 days South Africa’s transplanted athletes and supporters will descend on Perth, Australia from 14 to 22 April 2023 to compete in the 24th World Transplant Games hosted by Transplant Australia and the World Transplant Games Federation.
57 South African athletes have qualified to showcase their skills in Perth and 40 of those athletes will attend the Games in April. This is an opportunity for transplanted athletes to show their gratitude towards living donors and families of deceased donors.
This is a “Celebration of New Life” where athletes who have received solid organ or bone marrow transplants will compete in 13 different sports events over a week of fierce competition with over 1500 athletes from more than 60 nations:
- Cycling 5km Road race Badminton
- Table tennis Tennis Squash
- Golf Ten Pin Bowling Petanque
- Darts Lawn Bowls Swimming
- Track and Field Athletics
This year Donor Families and Living Donors will also be taking part in selected sporting events as well.
In preparation, the Gauteng athletes will have a full day of training activities including training in sporting codes such as track and field athletics, cycling, tennis, lawn bowls, golf and petanque. Lectures will take place in the afternoon to assist the athletes further with their preparation.
The training day will be followed by an awards ceremony where qualifying athletes will receive Senior Gauteng and National Colours. Senior Provincial Colours are being awarded to athletes from Gauteng who participated in the National Transplant Games in Gqeberha in July 2022.
Zane, the TELL (Transplant Education for Living Legacies) mascot will make an appearance during lunch to wish the athletes good luck and they will also be able to take some awesome selfies with Zane. He has a very unique and inspiring story, working to raise awareness about organ and tissue donation; he teaches kids and adults alike how important it is to SHARE THEIR SPARE. Luckily for Zane, Zebra was able to share his spare and enabled Zane to live his life to the fullest with his Zebra leg.
They are all working towards getting to the games, so they need all the support they can get.
If you wish to contribute to the activities of the Gauteng Transplant Sports Association (GTSA), you can make a donation via Quicket at https://qkt.io/1Pjdyo or via the bank account below.
Account name: Gauteng Transplant Sports Association
Bank: First National Bank
Account: 62777801757
Branch: 260216
by 