Edinburgh Games 2007
The British Transplant Games took place in Edinburgh, Thursday 26th July to Sunday 29th July 2007. The 545 athletes were made to feel very welcome during their visit and we had a number of guests including Lord Elder, Sir Jimmy Saville, Nicola Sturgeon MSP, Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Health and Wellbeing, and Ronnie Corbett to name a few.
Message from Lynne Holt (Chairman Edinburgh 2007)
Thank-you to all competitors and supporters who came to Edinburgh, which ensured that the Games were such a success! All of us on the LOC really enjoyed the whole experience and seeing all the hard work come to fruition.
Edinburgh is such a stunning city, so much so, that even when it started to sprinkle at the start of the Opening Ceremony - the sun shone! It was also the 30th Games and it gave me great pleasure in presenting special gifts to those who were involved in organizing the first Games - Maurice Slapak, Peter Griffin (in absentio) and Orien Young -not to be forgotten also, Sir Jimmy Saville! Also, Paul Silcox and Monica Clarke who competed at the first Games.
The attendance figures (measured) are: Total Audience - 1,975;Total Participants - 545;Number of day visitors - 350;Total number of overnight visitors - 2,257
These were my 25th Games, and for the first time, I really felt that the host city, and people of Edinburgh and Scotland knew we were there! I take great satisfaction in knowing that bringing the Games to Edinburgh has made a difference to the thousands of people still desperately waiting for organ transplants in Scotland and the UK. Why do I say this? - Approximately £80,000 was spent on Marketing and PR in the months building up to and during the Games, and is still ongoing. You will have hopefully seen the banners and flags on Princess St and sporting venues, blow up advertizing boards, 4 Gateway sites entering Edinburgh by road, posters on public transport, shops, hotels etc. There was continuous coverage on the 3 main radio stations, TV networks and regional and national press, leading up to and during the Games. More than 15,000 Organ Donor leaflets have been handed out at many events before the Games - The Royal Highland Show, the Edinburgh Walk, The Rat Race, displayed at the 70 Scottish Youth Hostels, Ikea stand, 2 days bagpacking at Morrisons, the list goes on! During the 4 days, there were manned display stands at the major shopping centres. You will have seen the copy in the 'What's On' Magazine (2nd time we have had copy in it) Also, the SYHA magazine, twice in the Holyrood Magazine and the Outlook publication, through the City of Edinburgh Council. There has already been increased transplant activity seen in Scotland and the UK in the last 6 weeks, and I will update you on the figures for % increase, not only of transplant activity but also number of people signing on to the ODR, before the year end.
I am very grateful to our major sponsors whose generous support for the Marketing and PR which is so vital, has ensured that the 30th British Transplant Games have made a difference! You will have seen their names on all the branding, with our other sponsors who also contribute to the organization of the Games , but I would like to mention here the Scottish partners - Scottish Executive, EventScotland, City of Edinburgh Council, Scottish Youth Hostel and Standard Life. Our other major sponsors have ensured that you all enjoyed the organization, venues, sports, socials and transport etc and are advertized on our website, but I would like to highlight Children in Need, Heart Research UK, Foundation for Sport, Coca Cola and Astellas.
Final thanks to you, your families and the Donor Families who have shared your stories and encouraged others to talk about their wishes with their families.
I look forward to seeing you all, plus more competitors, I hope, in Sheffield 2008
Stories from the event:
Reports from the event, together with photos are available so you can see what we got up to! From the gala dinner, the band "The Look" took photos, and these can be found on the link here:
From one of the volunteers, here is a record of the opening ceremony here:
From a first time attendee at the Games:
...It really is an amazing event and so many people obviously work tremendously hard to make sure it goes well. The sport is great but as it was my first time, the thing that we most remember is all the people and the good will and humour that is extended by everyone. I know that is the main purpose and for us that really came over. There were just too many memorable moments to mention outside the sport. We are just so glad we came along, pleased we were able to participate in some small way and grateful we were able to meet so many remarkable people....
Ian Harding (Birmingham team)
Thank you for another brilliant Games this year. Each year I ask myself why I go but each year I thoroughly enjoy myself - meeting old friends and making new ones!
My abiding memory of this year will be a conversation I had with one of the "Donor Dads". He was telling me how his son had been killed in his late twenties (a pedestrian killed when a car hit him on the pavement!) but that donation had been an easy decision. He told me how his son at the age of about 11 had been watching Blue Peter when there was an appeal and some young people had said about how much the transplant had changed their lives. Even now goose bumps come up when I think of it - I was one of those children! Ever since I had my kidney transplant I have tried to persuade people to "carry the card" and now "sign the register" and you often wonder if it makes a difference. The Donor Dad gave me a big hug and thanked me!
He said he could do nothing to stop his son dying but knowing several people are alive today because of his donation makes him think that some good came out of it. This makes me realise it does help and I must keep going out and telling my story!
Take care
Claire Corps (Leeds)
Firstly may I say that it was a pleasure to be involved in the Transplant Games as a timekeeper and indeed the atmosphere in Meadowbank throughout the whole day was amongst the best I have experienced at an athletics event, EVER.
I would also like to say that my 13 year old daughter, who along with other young athletes from Pitreavie Athletic Club, who came along to help out, felt the same way. She particularly enjoyed assisting the younger athletes on the start line for the sprint races and stated that if the Transplant Games ever come back to Scotland, she would most definitely be there.
Gary & Rebecca Law
Pitreavie AAC
....This years games were one of the best I have been to, had a fabulous time, there is really nothing to beat it and both the athlete(I use this loosely for me) and the supporter have a fab time, and that is so important. My husband moaned all weekend after the run, lol! I did 4 events in 3 days and didn't moan once, in fact I was up at 6am as I was so excited. Despite not getting to bed until 2/3am. I got my first medal ever out of 4 games in 14 years. I was about to 'retire' from the leicester team while doing the cricket ball throw as I never win anything, then I got a silver in said cricket ball throw, it was so funny.....
Pauline Baird (Leicester Team)
Hi Lynne!
I just wanted to say that I had an absolute ball during the Games. I know that I'm a quiet / shy guy but I did really enjoy soaking up the atmosphere. The children's programme is clearly so much fun. I will be in contact with various people over the next few days and my message will be that we would be mad not to take up the kind invitation to bring a children's team to Sheffield next year.
On a personal note, the warmth of the welcome I received from you, Carol, Peter, Liz, etc. made me feel like royalty throughout. I don't think I have ever been a VIP at a Gala Dinner before! I was straight on the phone to my wife about that! My main intention in coming over for the Games was to get first hand experience of the children's programme. Carol got me presenting some medals at the swimming and I got to present a trophy at the Gala Dinner. In Special Olympics Ireland we have the motto, "Share the Feeling." By including me in these ways I got to "share the feeling" and it was a real buzz!
Opening the 5km to the public was a good idea. It spread the word about organ donation and also offered registered supporters like myself a chance to take a step beyond being an avid supporter to be able to share the sense of achievement, and muscle aches!
Bangkok is the next thing on the horizon and I am hoping that it will live up to the experience you and your team put together for everyone in Edinburgh.
Regards,
Colin White
National Transplant & Dialysis Games Manager
Ireland Team Manager - World Transplant Games - Thailand 2007
Hi Lynne
I would like to offer my thanks to you and your LOC, for organising one of the most enjoyable and well organised British Games, I have attended.
Starting with the opening ceremony and closing with a splendid Gala Dinner, it was superb. Good luck for the World Games to you and all competitors/supporters.
Regards - Joan
Edinburgh was a brilliant weekend and I'm not just saying that because Papworth retained the Tesco Trophy for the 3rd year running! The events, transport, accommodation, gala dinner etc etc were faultless in my mind.
The Scots and the Organising Committee did us all proud. Please pass this on to those involved as they deserve a big pat on the back and a huge round of applause!
Very best wishes,
Maggie and Charles Gambrill
Hi Lynne
Just a story for you.
Carol asked me to pick up all the little Scottish gifts from the Youth Hostel that hadn't been used. On the bus home, all I could hear the whole way home was the sound of 'Scotland the Brave' going off from the little bagpipe fridge magnet gifts.
Every time I slightly moved the bag, another one would go off. I'm just glad I wasn't on a long haul trip, otherwise I would have been lynched.
I cannot thank yourself and Carol enough for all the hard work you put in.
Cheers
Frank
Lynne,
Brilliant location; Wonderful weather; Great games.
Congratulations!
Colin
From the Cardiff Team I would like to thank all involved in putting on a fabulous games.
A great time was had by all.
Regards
Ian
Dear Lynne and all the team
On behalf of the Plymouth team I would like to say a big thank you for the Games this year. There were a few hiccups such as not be able to get food on one evening although we had paid for it, but overall everything that we were involved in was extremely well organised. A thoroughly great time was had by all, although some of our team (including myself) got as many hours sleep as the team won gold medals (11 in total!)
Thank you ever so much again
Best of luck to all in the World Games and here's to Sheffield next year
Claire West
(On behalf of the Plymouth team)
Thank you for organising what all in the Coventry Team felt was a fantastic event. For me personally it was my 17th TPG (retirement planned after no. 19) and it certainly was one of the best for organisation, location, accommodation, atmosphere ... and bars ... The Donor Run was a fantastic event and one I am sure will become a standard item.
'Tarts in Tartan' - just wait for the 'Lady Godiva' disco in Coventry !
Now there's a dare for our 4 x 100m relay team.
Sarah
Photos from the weekend
All the photos from Paul and Garvin will be loaded onto Photoboxgallery within a couple of weeks. Details will be on News when they are available. If you have any good photos that you would also like to make available, please contact webmaster for information - but in the meantime, here are a few of them from the weekend:
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