After a weeklong celebration of life through sport, the 17th Australian Transplant Games officially came to a close on Sunday 6 October.
Over 7 days, nearly 500 competitors from around Australia represented their states and showcased their talents in 19 different sports, ranging from lawn bowls and pétanque to athletics and cycling.
The Games provided an opportunity for both elite and recreational athletes to come together and compete on a national stage. The Games encouraged transplant recipients to improve their health and fitness while showcasing the life-changing benefits of organ donation.
Most importantly, the Games were an opportunity for recipients, their families, living donors and donor families to come together and see they are not alone in their journey and amongst Transplant Australia are caring members of our community committed to supporting everyone.
A highlight of the Games for many was the Opening Parade through Floriade and the Opening Ceremony and Rose Parker’s moving performance of her song ‘Because of You’. Rose captured everyone in the audience, sharing the story of her late brother Tim who became an organ donor and her journey that inspired her incredible song. Together, we shared so many moments of connection, gratitude, pride, sportsmanship, and celebration.
We’d like to congratulate our award winners from the 2024 Australian Transplant Games:
- Mark Cocks Memorial Juniors Shield – Team NSW
- Victor Chang Memorial Shield – Team NSW
- Donor Family Shield – Team WA
- David Cairns Memorial Juniors Shield – Team QLD
- Athlete of the Games – Grace Pearce and Steve Griffin
- Jan and Daryl Wall International Shield – Digvijay Singh Gujral
- DonateLife Shield – Rob Dixon
- Spirit of the Games Award – Danny Ussher
- Jack Nolan Memorial Trophy – Sebastian Molina
Congratulations to all the award winners — you should be incredibly proud of your achievements!
Finally, a heartfelt thank you to the volunteers, team managers, sports coordinators, and every participant who made these Games possible. We hope you’ve left the Games with memories to cherish for a lifetime.
A huge thanks to the Organ & Tissue Authority for its sponsorship of the Games and believing in Transplant Australia. Also, thanks to Astellas for its support.
Our team was extremely proud to present these Games, and we thank everyone one of you who has reached out by email, social media and in personal calls, to share your appreciation.
“Transplant Australia, you have helped me more than you could know. Eight years after organ failure requiring transplant and an extraordinary recovery, I felt that I began to heal. This is solely due to my attendance and participation in the 2024 Australian Transplant Games. Thank you to every human involved. My experience was truly life reimagined.” Games Participant
