9th All India Transplant Games and SAARC Transplant Olympics

Published in Ludhiana Tribune

City to host games for people with transplanted organs

Ludhiana, August 12 2006: They haven’t hit the court or track yet and already this group of athletes has performed death-defying feats. They all carry an inner trophy — a new organ that qualifies them for the dream team in the game of life. Their ultimate trial will kick off at Guru Nanak Stadium here, the site selected for the 2006 Transplant Games, when the city will play host to 9th All India Transplant Games and SAARC Transplant Olympics being organised jointly by the All India Transplant Games Federation, the Society for Constructive Education and Dayanand Medical College and Hospital (DMCH).

Dr Baldev Singh Aulakh, urologist and transplant surgeon at the DMCH, who is the chief organiser of the mega event, announced at a news conference here today that the games, to be held on October 27 and 28, 2006, would be an Olympic-style event for athletes, who have received life-saving organ transplants of any type — kidney, liver, heart, lung, cornea, pancreas or bone marrow. The participating transplant athletes will compete for gold, silver and bronze medals in different sports, including track and field, swimming, tennis. Organised biennially, the Transplant Games draw participants from all over the country.

According to Dr Aulakh, more than 100,000 Indians were currently suffering from ‘end stage renal disease’ per year needing organ transplant and 30 of them die each day while waiting for a donor. “The Transplant Games showcase the success of transplantation, demonstrating the life-saving power of organ donation”.

Dr Dinesh Jain, co-organiser, expressed confidence that the spirited competition by those having undergone transplants would slam home the message that every Indian should consider becoming an organ donor. Attendance at the 2006 Transplant Games was expected to surpass the participation in the earlier editions of the games if the enthusiasm witnessed among athletes, their families and friends and families of organ donors was any indication.

Dr Aulakh said the athlete participants ranged in age from two to 85 years. In addition to athletic competition, the games would host special workshops for donor families and an educational programme for professionals involved in transplantation. An ‘Awareness Walk’ would be held before the commencement of games. “We are dedicated to prevent kidney and urinary tract diseases, improving the health and well being of individuals and families affected by these diseases and increasing the availability of all organs for transplantation.”

He remarked that donors and recipients of organs like kidney and liver were keenly looking forward to their participation in the games. “These persons have received the gift of a new life and what other better way they have than to put up an animated performance in the track and field events to spread the message of getting transplant done as also to motivate the potential donors ?”

Link: http://www.tribuneindia.com/2006/20060813/ldh3.htm