Communities Minister and Health Minister Have Marked the Success of the
Northern Ireland Transplant Games Team Following Their
Outstanding Performance at the 2025 World Transplant Games.
In August This Year the Team of 27 Athletes Travelled to Dresden,
Germany to Compete in the Games.
Team Northern Ireland Placed Th Overall in the Competition out of
51 Competing Countries and Achieved an Impressive Medal Haul of
18 Gold, 9 Silver and 8 Bronze Medals.
Speaking After a Special Reception at Parliament Buildings,
Minister Lyons Said: It Was a Pleasure to Host the
Athletes to Celebrate the Fantastic Achievements of Team Northern
Ireland at This Year's World Transplant Games.
This Was the First Year That Team Northern Ireland
Competed As a Standalone Member Country at the Games, and What a
Debut Performance It Was. Their Medal Haul Was an Incredible
Result and One That Stands Testament to the Dedication, Talent
and Spirit of All Those Involved.
Beyond the Medals, It's the Stories Behind Each of the
Athletes That Truly Inspire Us. Every Athlete Has Faced
Challenges That Most of Us Can Only Imagine. They Have Shown
Courage, Determination and a Commitment Not Just to Sport but to
Life Itself.
This Celebration Was a Reminder of the Power of Sport,
Not Just to Achieve Medals and Rankings but to Inspire Others, to
Strengthen Communities and to Demonstrate the Very Best of
Northern Ireland.”
Health Minister Said: It Is with
Immense Pride and Great Pleasure That We Have Come Together to
Honour Team Northern Ireland Who Represented Our Region with Such
Distinction at the Recent World Transplant Games. These Athletes,
Who Have Undergone Heart, Liver, Kidney, and Stem Cell
Transplants, Competed in a Wide Range of Sports and Their
Achievements Are Simply Exceptional.
The Games Are of Course Not Just About Competition; They
Are About Celebrating the Generosity of Donors and Their
Families, Raising Awareness of the Importance of Organ Donation,
and Inspiring Others to Consider Giving the Gift of Life. While
Northern Ireland Has an Excellent Record of Organ Donation and
Transplantation, the Number of People Awaiting Transplant Exceeds
the Number of Available Organs. We Must Encourage and Facilitate
Donation. I Would Therefore Urge Everyone to Record Their
Donation Decision on the Organ Donor Register and Discuss That
Decision Regularly with Loved Ones.
I Extend My Heartfelt Congratulations to Each Member of
Team Northern Ireland. You Have Made Us Proud and Are an
Inspiration to Us All.”
Speaking About the Games, Orla Smyth, Athlete, Team Manager and
Chair of Transplant Sport Northern Ireland Said: I Cannot Put
into Words How Proud I Am of the Team of Transplanted Athletes
and Living Donors Who Represented Ni in Dresden. If I'm Honest
the Medals Were a Bonus – the Team Spirit, Camaraderie and What
Amazing Ambassadors They All Were for Organ Donation Is the Big
Win for Me.”
