Sunday, August 30, 2009

World Transplant Games wrap-up in Australia

World transplant games

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Milena Stojceska goldcoast.com.au

August 29 - ALTHOUGH Australia won the most gold medals, the UK ended on top at this year's 17th annual World Transplant Games which closed on the Gold Coast this afternoon.

Australia's team finished wih 85 gold medals, but the UK's more consistent performances saw them top the medal tally with a total of 214 medals, 78 of them gold. (For results and medal standing click here.)

Medal tallies were the furthest thing from the athletes' minds this afternoon, however as they gathered at Griffith University for the Games' closing ceremony.

Pictures: World Transplant Games closing ceremony.

A group of 2000 participants 990 of them athletes who have undergone organ transplants supporters, locals and spectators gathered and will say their farewells at the Gold Coast Convention and Exhibition Centre for a gala dinner tonight.

Games chair Chris Thomas said his main hope for the Games was to gain exposure for organ donations in Queensland.

"Hopefully this will get more awareness out there about organ donations and more people will be willing to donate now," he said.

"There's no other event like it the fact that these people are still alive because of the generosity of someone else."

The next World Transplant Games will be hosted in Sweden in 2011.


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