Ireland was pipped for top position by Hungary in the medals table at the 6th European Transplant & Dialysis Games which finished in Dublin at the weekend.
With its best performance ever, Ireland secured the largest haul of medals overall at the Games with an impressive 116 medals including 40 gold, 35 silver and 41 bronze.
But the table is decided on gold medals, and Hungary finished in the top slot with 45 gold, 31 silver, and 33 bronze, making a total of 109 medals. Germany were third with 37 gold medals.
Good weather prevailed and large crowds attended this historic event which was held in Ireland for the first time ever. It is the largest organ donor awareness event to take place in Europe this year. The unique Games brought over 350 brave athletes from 24 European countries together to celebrate the ‘gift of life’.
Celebrating life will be the legacy of Ireland’s staging of the Games.
The biennial event was hailed as an outstanding success both on an off the sporting field as all those taking part were united in sharing a common and poignant bond. They all had suffered organ failure and many were embracing a second chance at life, while honouring their organ donors through sport.
Wonderful, heart-wrenching stories emerged throughout the week with athletes overcoming huge health hurdles to take part.
Ireland team captain, Mike Dwyer said: “We are very pleased to have retained our position in the top three on the medals table against the unstoppable Hungary and Germany.
“We finished third at the previous European Games in Wuzburg, Germany, in 2008. However, it’s not just about winning medals here – every athlete taking part is a winner.
“We were proud to be able to participate on home soil this year and demonstrate to our European friends the warm hospitality for which our country is renowned, and we are confident they will have fond memories of their time in Ireland.
“There is a huge sense of comradeship throughout the Games and we look forward to renewing friendships when we travel to Zagreb, Croatia, when it hosts the 7th European Games in 2012.”
Said Colin White, chairman of the Games Organising Committee: “We were delighted to play host to this historic event, which took over two years planning. It was a major logistical undertaking, particularly as we had athletes who required dialysis while they are here in Dublin.
“The Games success can be attributed to the support of national governing bodies, our sponsors, to staff and members of the Irish Kidney Association for their organisation and fundraising for the games, and the selfless work of so many dedicated volunteers.
“We hope the legacy of these Games will reinforce the importance of organ donation and the significant role that sport plays, both psychologically and physically, in maintaining a healthy lifestyle”.
Athletes who took part in the Games have received a transplant of one, or a combination, of the following: kidney, liver, heart, pancreas, lungs, and bone marrow, or else are receiving dialysis treatment.
The Games Village was located at DCU on Dublin’s northside, with various events taking place at different sporting venues on Dublin’s northside. The Games concluded with a Gala Dinner in the Regency Hotel with celebrations into the early hours of Sunday morning. Many of the European athletes returned home on Sunday with some taking an extra few days to discover Ireland.
The competing countries were Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, and the United Kingdom.
Athletics legend Eamonn Coghlan paid tribute to the athletes. “Everyone’s a winner in these Games,” he told the Irish team, when he met them for a motivational talk last month.
He added: “You have all fought huge personal battles to just get to the starting-line for these Games. You have displayed not only your love of sport, but your love of life, and you are an inspiration to all of us.”
Ireland had 71 athletes at the Games, ranging in age from 18 to 72.
The Irish team was made up of athletes from Antrim (1), Cavan (3), Clare (2), Cork (5), Dublin (22), Galway (5), Kerry (2), Kildare (3), Kilkenny (3), Leitrim (1), Limerick (1), Longford (1), Louth (1), Mayo (3), Meath (3), Monaghan (1), Roscommon (3), Sligo (1), Tipperary (3), Wexford (3), and Wicklow (4).
The full Irish team was as follows:
Antrim (1) – John McAleer, Whiteabbey;
Cavan (3) – Eamonn Malone, Cavan town; Paul Donohoe, Doogary, Rose Dalton, Mullahoran;
Clare (2) – Jennifer Tuohy, Scariff; Marie O’Connor, Lahinch;
Cork (5) – Anne-Marie Lankester, Ballinascarthy; Catherine Murphy, Aghabullogue; Charlie Ryan, Cobh; Mike Keohane, Rosscarbery; Valerie Twomey, Crosshaven;
Dublin (22) – Angela Sherlock, Walkinstown; Anne Smyth, Baldoyle; Barry Delves, Loughshinny; Ben Gaughran, Skerries; Chikoyo White, Balbriggan; Deirdre Faul, Dalkey; Harry Ward, Baldoyle; James Reynolds, Tallaght; John Moran, Glasnevin; John Traynor, Clondalkin; Leonard Ryan, Tallaght; Liam Dunne, Terenure; Mark Fitzsimons, Dublin 12; Michael Dwyer, Cabinteely; Owen Kelleher, Lucan; Paul Bryan, Templeogue; Paul Prendergast, Santry; Peter Heffernan, Skerries; Philip Martin, Swords; Sandra Doyle, Whitehall; Terry Mangan, Templeogue; Thomas Metcalfe, Stepaside;
Galway (5) – Declan O’Doherty, Loughrea; Enda Ansbro, Cortoon; Eoin Madden, Athenry; Linda Meyler, Athenry; Michael Lydon, Moycullen;
Kerry (2) – Colm Clifford, Milltown; Con Brosnan, Killarney;
Kildare (3) – Elaine Maguire, Athy; James Nolan, Kilcullen; Sonia Treacy, Newbridge;
Kilkenny (3) – Emma O’Sullivan, Ballyraggett; John Paul O’Neill, Castlecomer; Laima Chvedukiene, Inistioge;
Leitrim (1) – Cathriona Charles, Mohill;
Limerick (1) – John Loftus, Clarina;
Longford (1) – James Hannon,
Louth (1) – Gareth McBride, Drogheda;
Mayo (3) – Darren Cawley, Westport; Liam Duffy, Kilkelly; Regina Hennelly, Manulla;
Meath (3) – John Casey, Enfield; Rachel Eagleton, Bettystown; Tony Gavigan, Navan;
Monaghan (1) – Johns George, Carrickmacross;
Roscommon (3) – John Henry, Boyle, Monica Finn, Roscommon town; Pat Hegarty, Ballintubber;
Sligo (1) – Bridie Nicholson, Sligo town;
Tipperary (3) – Edward Crowe, Carrick-on-Suir; Orla Ryan, Nenagh; Sheila Gregan, Nenagh;
Wexford (3) – Brenda Cullen, Ballyduff; Edward Kehoe, Castlebridge; Joseph Kent, Castlebridge;
Wicklow (4) – Garrett Campbell, Greystones; Philip Kavanagh, Arklow; Seamus Eager, Kilcoole; Tony Gartland, Hacketstown.
Medical Director of the Games was Dr Yvonne Ryan from Beaumont Hospital, Dublin, and the Chief Physio was Clare Hogan, Cork.
Mark Murphy, the CEO of the Irish Kidney Association, and Colin White are both members of the European Transplant & Dialysis Games governing body.
A special website was built – www.2010newlife.com – where supporters followed the Games and sent messages of support.
For an organ donor card FREETEXT the word ‘DONOR’ to 50050.
Some facts about the Games
These were the 6th European Transplant & Dialysis Games. They took place from August 8th-15th in Dublin.
Over 350 athletes from 24 countries took part
Athletes taking part will have received a transplant of one, or a combination, of the following: kidney, liver, heart, pancreas, lungs, and bone marrow, or else will be receiving dialysis treatment
The European Transplant & Dialysis Games take place every second year. At the 2008 Games, in Wurzburg, Germany, the Irish team finished third on the medals table from 24 competing countries. Ireland brought home a total of 42 medals.
Zagreb, Croatia will host the 7th European Transplant & Dialysis Games for the first time from 19th -26th August 2010.
Ireland will participate in the 18th World Transplant Games next year which will be held in Goteborg, Sweden from 17th -24th June, 2011
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