Newport County AFC are delighted to welcome the Welsh Transplant Games team that will be competing in the upcoming 2019 British Transplant Games, taking place in Newport, this July.
Rodney Parade will host the Opening Ceremony of the 42nd annual Westfield Health British Transplant Games on Thursday 25th July, when over 2000 participants will descend on Newport to celebrate the Gift of Life from Thursday to Sunday 28th July.
The Games involve 24 sports and provide opportunities for transplanted athletes (all must have had a life-saving hard organ or stem cell transplant) to participate for fun and competitively in physical activity, and many for the first time.
The Games seeks to demonstrate the positive aspects of transplantation and the wonderful gift that living, and donor families have made to re-boot many peoples’ lives around the UK.
Wales has a special place in leading the UK in approving the “Opt Out” rule which England, Scotland and Northern Ireland are soon to embrace. However, the Games and the Welsh Government are at pains to stress that everyone needs to have the “Donation Conversation”, so that families and loved ones know full well that you are a “consenting” donor in the event of the opportunity happening.
NCAFC are proud to be able to share that the Welsh team will be taking part in a lap of honour at half time of the Lincoln match, as well as watching the penultimate home League match of the season. Buy your tickets for that match online from Saturday on our website.
Transplant Sport is the charity that promotes the Games throughout the UK, ensuring that the growing population of transplanted athletes and donors get to see, not only how lives are saved, but that through physical activity transplant patients can lead healthy and active lives.
“Rodney Parade and Newport County Football Club have been great supporters of the Games coming to Newport. Indeed, they have already championed transplantation in staging a match two years ago here at Rodney Parade when they played a transplant games football team”, stated Paul Harden, Chairman of Transplant Sport. The home game on 27th April v Lincoln City will also provide an opportunity to welcome transplanted athletes from Wales at Rodney Parade, who will be competing in the Games.
Fans of Newport County AFC and the Gwent Dragons will be given the opportunity to attend the Opening Ceremony of the Games as the Games organisers wish to see a capacity crowd welcome the transplant athletes from around the UK into the stadium, in an Olympic style parade.
“For many of these athletes, of which there are some 300 children, entering a stadium representing their Transplant Unit is one of the highlights of their sporting lives”, added David Nix, President of the UK Donor Network.
For information go to www.britishtransplantgames.co.uk and to lodge your interest in complimentary tickets for the Games Opening Ceremony drop an e-mail to btg@mlsgb.co