British Transplant Games: Tears of joy as sports event opens in North Lanarkshire

Today will see the Opening Ceremony of the Games - only the third time in their 40 year history they have been held in Scotland and a first for Lanarkshire.

More than 750 athletes, who have all received a life-saving organ transplant, are to take part in the life-affirming event.

Some 14 venues across the region will be taken over by competitors as the Games draw more than 2000 supporters to watch the 23 sporting activities.

Lynne Holt, chairwoman of the management committee for Transplant Sport, the charity behind the Games, said: "The Games were started by a kidney transplant surgeon to encourage patients to do some exercise while having something to aim for, to practice for.

"Since then, we now have many more types of transplant and the Games have grown in size as more people have transplants and more get involved.

"We see a real range of people taking part, from serious athletes to children - hopefully everyone will have a wonderful time."

Last held in Scotland 10 years ago, the Games, which run from July 27 to 30, aim to encourage those have have received a transplant to live active lives.

They also hope to show how important organ donation is and demonstrate how vital it is that people sign on to the NHS Organ Donor Register.

In the UK more than 7000 people are waiting for a transplant while three die each day waiting for an organ.

As told in the Evening Times on Monday, in North Lanarkshire there are currently a record 124,559 people on the Organ Donor Register with around 30 people receiving an organ transplant every year.

There are currently 52 people in North Lanarkshire waiting for a transplant and since the Games were launched last November, more than 3000 people joining the Organ Donor Register.

Lynne, now retired, was a nurse at Newcastle's Freeman Hospital working with heart transplant patients and was appointed the UK’s first clinical transplant coordinator.

She has been heavily involved with the British Transplant Games since 1982.

Lynne added: "I'm excited to see the kiddies who came through the Freeman who I haven't seen for years.

"The Games are always very emotional and people love to meet up and share their stories.

"I'm known for wearing sunglasses no matter what the weather because I don't want people seeing me welling up."

Tonight's Opening Ceremony will be held at the Ravenscraig Sport Facility in Motherwell from 6pm to 9pm while Sunday's Closing Ceremony will be at the same venue from 6pm til 11pm.

The annual Donor Run is to take place in Strathclyde Country Park on Saturday.

The Donor Run takes place each year and is open to all transplant recipients, donor families and the general public.

To enter the donor run see www.britishtransplantgames.co.uk/get-involved/donor-run

Swimming will take place in Sir Matt Busby Sport complex with athletics at Wishaw Sports Centre and basketball and football at Ravenscraig Sports Centre.

Athletes are aged between three and 82 and will compete in competitions including archery, athletics, golf, squash, snooker, tennis and swimming.

The Games are not ticketed and, except for the darts, are free for people to turn up on the day.

Earlier this month the The Scottish Government announced plans to switch to an opt-out transplant system, following a major campaign by the Evening Times.

However, Lynne said education is the key to ensure people speak to their families as, under an opt-out system, relatives may still veto organ donation.

She said: "Legislation is not going to make the difference - it's education.

"Three people are still dying every day waiting for an organ transplant so we need people to be talking to their families and letting them know their wishes.

"The Games are about raising awareness and that's something we need people to know."

For more information about the Games see www.britishtransplantgames.co.uk