Eligibility

Who can enter

We have categories for adults, juniors (by age), supporters (living donors, donor families, carers, medical professionals, family and friends of transplant recipients) plus events for the general public. Spectators are welcome at all of our sporting activities.

The Australian Transplant Games is a team-based competition with Australian states and international teams competing.

All registrants must be members of Transplant Australia. Australian registrants are required to pay their state contribution fee and international registrants are required to be registered with their own international transplant organisation. Membership of Transplant Australia ensures all registrants can access and are covered by Transplant Australia’s sports injury insurance policy.

Transplant recipient and living donor competitors must submit a medical form, completed by their treating physician, to complete their registration.

All participants are expected to adhere to Transplant Australia’s Sports Integrity policy, Code of Conduct and Social Media Policy

Criteria for Transplant Competitors

The following are eligible to compete in the Australian Transplant Games recipient category:

  • Solid organ recipients including liver, heart, lung, kidney, pancreas including islets, small and large intestine. 
  • Tissue recipients including corneal, bone marrow, stem cell, heart valve (human origin), bone graft (human origin), tendon and cartilage.
  • Those with cystic fibrosis
  • Those awaiting transplantation
  • Dialysis patients
  • Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome patients
  • Hypoplastic Right Heart Syndrome patients

Please note this eligibility status is different from the World Transplant Games criteria which only allow:

  • Solid organ recipients
  • Bone marrow and stem cell recipients
Opening the Australian Transplant Games for tissue recipients has been agreed to on the following basis:

Qualification – participants having undergone invasive treatment of a non-cosmetic nature requiring organs and/or tissues (excluding blood) donated by another person.

Competitors must have been transplanted for at least 1 year, with stable graft function, be medically fit and have trained for the events in which they have entered. If a potential competitor has been transplanted for at least 6 months, with stable graft function, has been training, and has permission from their own doctor, their entry may be considered by the Games Medical Committee.

Criteria for Supporter Competitors

The Games offers a range of sports catering for all abilities and welcomes the participation in selected events from:

  • Donor Families: families of deceased organ and tissue donors
  • Living organ and tissue (bone marrow) donors
  • Carers of organ and tissue transplant recipients
  • Health professionals
  • Family & Friends
  • Supporters of our cause. 

Tissue donors are also eligible to compete in the Australian Transplant Games alongside solid organ donors as both lead to improving the quality of life and/or the saving the lives of Australians.

Athletes will compete by gender in the following age groups:

  • 18-29
  • 30-39
  • 40-49
  • 50-59
  • 60-69
  • 70-79
  • 80+

Doubles events:

  • under 30
  • 30-49
  • 50+

Juniors will compete in events designated as junior events by gender in the following age groups:

  • 5 years and under
  • 6-8
  • 9-11
  • 12-14
  • 15-17

Juniors 15 or 17 years of age may be considered to compete in an adult age event where the event is not offered in their age category. Please email sports@transplant.org.au for consideration. 

Age on the first day of the Games will apply.

All participants are expected to adhere to Transplant Australia’s Sports Integrity policy, Code of Conduct and Social Media Policy

Transplant Australia is pleased to provide these Games on a user pays basis keeping expenses down for all participants. We understand circumstances prevent people from attending. Please observe the following cancellation policy. 

  1. Cancellations made on or before 3 September 2024 (4 weeks prior) will receive a 100% refund (less bank and booking charges).
  2. Cancellations made between 3 September 2024 and up to and including 24 September 2024 (1 week prior) will receive a 50% refund.
  3. Cancellations made on or after 24 September 2024 (1 week prior) will not receive any refund.

For Transplant Competitors, special circumstances for not obtaining a medical certificate will be considered.