Athletes from around 60 nations at the World Transplant Games

Dresden wants to celebrate life as the host of the World Transplant Games for athletes with a donor organ. Up to 2,500 athletes from around 60 countries are expected to take part in the competitions from 17 to 24 August, the organizers announced. They will be competing in 17 disciplines to prove what is possible despite organ donation. The Games will be combined with the Dresden City Festival to draw the attention of hundreds of thousands of festival guests to transplants.

Author Tamara Schwab ("Dein Herz, mein Herz") and singer Roland Kaiser will act as ambassadors for the World Championships. Schwab had a heart transplant in 2021 and wants to take part in the World Games as a cyclist. Kaiser received a lung transplant 15 years ago. Although he is no longer able to take part in the Dresden competitions, he does sport every day in his gym in order to be in good shape for his job and to take care of his lungs, he said.

You have a responsibility when you receive an organ, Kaiser emphasized and spoke of great luck. "I am living my second life differently to my first." The doctors had advised him at the time to live his life and not be overly cautious. He is in better shape and feels better than before. People who have had transplants can achieve great things and don't have to cut back.

Around 8,300 people in Germany are waiting for organ donations

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.

Saxony's Health Minister Petra Köpping (SPD) spoke out in favor of the so-called objection solution at the presentation of the program for the World Transplant Games. This means that the removal of organs after death is permitted unless a person expressly objects during their lifetime.