Final at the World Transplant Games in Dresden

The World Transplant Games came to an end with a ceremony in Dresden's Heinz Steyer Stadium. The competitions for athletes with a donor organ were held in Germany for the first time. According to the organizers, Dresden proved to be a very good host. The competitions and accompanying events were very well received.

"No matter where you are in your transplant story, no matter whether you are doing well or not so well, no matter how good you are at sport - we are there together to look after each other, do our best and cherish this gift," explained Liz Schick, President of the World Transplant Games Federation. She herself received a liver transplant in 1997 and has led the Federation since 2023.

Competitions showcase 'miracle of organ donation'

According to Schick, the competitions are "a wonderful way to showcase the miracle of organ donation and transplantation. Our athletes have been given a new lease of life thanks to the generosity of their donors and donor families," emphasized the President. She often meets people, even doctors, who do not know what transplant recipients will be able to do physically afterwards.

"There is nothing better to encourage people to think about their decision to donate than to see the joy, courage and achievements of our athletes - proof that the decision to become an organ donor can save lives and change entire families," emphasized Schick. Organ donation is a miracle, and anyone can become a miracle worker, the President said. The next Games will take place in Leuven (Belgium) in 2027.

Around 2,200 participants from 51 nations registered

Around 2,200 participants and helpers from 51 nations had registered for this year's Games, including over 1,500 transplanted athletes. They were able to compete in 17 sports, including tennis, swimming and athletics. "With these games, we not only want to inspire athletes, but also get people talking about what organ donation means, how much it can change and why it is worth taking a stand," said Gudrun Manuwald-Seemüller, Managing Director of the World Transplant Games 2025, describing the goal in advance.

Roland Kaiser and Tamara Schwab, Elke Büdenbender patron

Author Tamara Schwab ("Dein Herz, mein Herz") and singer Roland Kaiser acted as ambassadors for the World Championships. Schwab had a heart transplant in 2021. Kaiser received a lung transplant 15 years ago. Elke Büdenbender, wife of German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier, acted as patron. He had donated a kidney to his wife in 2010.

After the final, Elke Büdenbender expressed her enthusiasm for what transplanted people can achieve. The spectators responded to the athletes with standing ovations. "We are a family, we are there for each other, we have fair competitions," Büdenbender told the German Press Agency. It's about more than sport. "It's about being together, it's about sharing (...) what a great second life you can have."

Roland Kaiser: Games a role model for society as a whole

Fairness was paramount in all sporting competition, said Kaiser. "The athletes can share in the joy of the others, even though they are their competitors (...). Appreciation is practiced here. That should be a role model for our entire society."

Organs such as kidneys, livers or hearts for seriously ill patients have been urgently needed for years. According to the German Organ Transplant Foundation, 953 people donated one or more organs to others after their death last year. At the same time, almost 8,300 people were on waiting lists at the end of 2024. In Germany, calls for a so-called opt-out solution are growing louder. This would allow the removal of organs after death, unless the person expressly objects during their lifetime.