A launch event for the 2022 British Transplant Games was held in Leeds last week, officially introducing the games which are to be held in the Yorkshire city in summer of next year.

After the 2021 Games were postponed due to COVID-19, the organisers hope that next summer’s event will be a return to form. The last Games were held in 2019 in Newport, and brought a boost to the local economy. In 2022, it is expected that over 900 competitors of all ages will travel to Leeds to take part in the events from 28-31 July.

The Games are the flagship event of the year for Transplant Sport, a UK charity specialising in supporting organ transplant recipients to recover actively from their operations. The charity also aims to raise awareness of the importance of organ donation.

The competitors in the British Transplant Games are all organ transplant recipients, and the yearly event serves to allow the members of the transplant community to reconnect, and have open conversations around organ donation.

James Lewis, the leader of Leeds Council commented:

We’re so excited to finally be able to welcome the transplant community to Leeds for the Westfield Health British Transplant Games. It’s been a long time coming, we’re ready and raring to go and are so proud to be doing our bit to raise awareness of organ donation and encourage the people of Leeds and the rest of Yorkshire to have that crucial conversation about their wishes with loved ones.

Anthony Clarkson, Director of Organ and Tissue Donation and Transplantation at NHS Blood and Transplant, added:

It’s fantastic to see the British Transplant Games getting back up and running again in 2022. After a long and difficult time during the pandemic, we know that many people will welcome the chance to come back together and once again celebrate the health, fitness and skills made possible by their transplant.

In a year when we will also see the Commonwealth Games return to the UK, it is an important reminder of the importance of physical health and wellbeing and how organ donation gives the gift of life and opportunities to so many. We look forward to joining the fun in Leeds next summer and hope that the Games will continue to inspire positive conversation about organ donation and encourage many more to register their decision and leave their family certain.

The Westfield Health British Transplant Games are being staged with the help of continued support of Westfield Health and Kidney Care UK and local partners including Leeds Hospitals Charity, Leeds City Council, Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust and the University of Leeds.

For more information on the Westfield Health British Transplant Games and how you can get involved, visit: britishtransplantgames.co.uk.