1ST TRANSPLANT FOOTBALL WORLD CUP 2020
The World Transplant Games Federation has announced that the first Transplant Football World Cup will be held 30 August-5 September in Cesenatico, Italy. The tournament is being staged by Associazione Italiana Cultura Sport (AICS). WTGF President Cris Thomas thanked AICS for its willingness to host our inaugural tournament and showcase the gift of life in such an inspiring event. For 40 years the WTGF has provided a unique opportunity for transplant recipients to participate in both the World Summer and Winter Transplant Games. Thousands of recipients from more than 70 countries have used these Games to benchmark their personal fitness and join the world’s greatest celebration of the gift of life. Mr. Thomas said the WTGF has listened to the worldwide transplant community and responded by providing an opportunity for those recipients who have a love of football to show their skills on the pitch. “Football, as a team-based sport, is different from many of the usual sports under the WTGF flag. Football provides a greater opportunity for social inclusion, it teaches teamwork and how to win (and sometimes lose) as a team. It helps develop a person’s self-worth and resilience,” Mr Thomas said. Modeled on the FIFA World Cup, the competition will feature teams from the member countries of the Federation which will compete in a World Cup format to crown an International Champion. Teams are entirely made up of those who’ve had their lives saved by organ donation. Heart, lung, liver, kidney, cornea and bone-marrow recipients will unite on the pitch to celebrate their second chance at life.