The games will be held at BBVA Compass Stadium, the George R. Brown Convention Center and various other facilities throughout the City of Houston.
Expecting in excess of 2,000 athletes, sports events include a 5k run, badminton, basketball, bowling, cycling, golf, racquetball, swimming, table tennis and track and field. "I can't wait for Houston to host the Games," said Brian Gilliam, a Houston transplant recipient and athlete. "We will have a large number of living donors and donor families attend since the Games are in Houston and they are a reason that we compete!"
Aside from the sporting competition. which will take place over four days, the event will include spectacular opening and closing ceremonies and a series of tributes to many of the heroes of organ donation. Athletes and their families, donor families and thousands of supporters will gather at Athletes Village to help deliver the important message that organ, eye and tissue donation saves lives.
According to Donate Life America, as of July 2012, there are 114,712 individuals in the United States awaiting a lifesaving organ and 1,737 are pediatric patients. Last year, there were 28,535 organs transplanted from 14,144 donors.
In Texas alone, 11,000 men, women and children are waiting for a lifesaving transplant; more than 3,000 are from the greater Houston area. Donate Life Texas, which is the official database of Texans authorized to be organ, eye and tissue donors upon their deaths, reports that the number stands at approximately 3 million registrations. The more registered donors there are, the greater the chance of finding matches for people in need.
“You Have the Power to Donate Life – Sign-up today! Tell Your Loved Ones of Your Decision”
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