Transplant recipients to feature in games

Transplant recipients to feature in games

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Minister for Sport and Recreation and Member for Armadale Tony Buti, Sam Low, Dajana Tesevic, Bryan Williams and Troy Scudds.

Champion Lakes Regatta Centre will be host to the prestigious World Transplant Games (WTG) in 2023 as the Government announces funding.

A funding agreement between the State Government and Tourism Western Australia has cemented the government’s support for the WTG.

Perth was announced as a host city in January after Transplant Australia submitted a successful bid to the World Transplant Games Federation for the 2023 event.

To be held from April 15, 2023 to April 21, 2023, the games will bring together organ and tissue donation recipients to compete in around 16 sports including swimming, athletics, tenpin bowling, table tennis, and cycling.

As the world’s largest organ donation awareness event, the games promote organ and tissue donation to improve access to life-saving transplants for terminally ill Australians.

In addition, a series of events including cultural evenings, donor recognition, and a gala dinner will showcase Perth’s hospitality and tourism offerings.

Interstate and local athletes will compete at the seven-day event, which has the potential to attract more than 1700 visitors and millions of dollars in visitor spend for the State.

This prestigious event will see transplant athletes compete at some of the State’s premier sporting venues including HBF Stadium, WA Athletics Stadium, Bendat Basketball Centre, Gold Netball Centre and Champion Lakes Regatta Centre.

Supporting mass participation events such as the World Transplant Games is part of Tourism WA’s work to attract more visitors to the State.

Sport and Recreation Minister and Member for Armadale Tony Buti said it is an honour to host the games in Perth.

“These athletes are truly inspirational and it will be an honour to watch them compete in such a wide array of sports.,” he said.

“This international sporting event not only shines a spotlight on the athletic achievements possible in the transplant community but shows the wider public the many benefits of physical activity.

“Western Australia continues to prove that it is an enviable host of major marquee events such as the World Transplant Games through access to world-class sporting venues and to do so in the same year that we will host the FIFA Women’s World Cup reinforces that.”