2024 Transplant Games

The 2024 Transplant Games of America is a national Olympic-style competition for athletes who have donated organs or received donated organs. The games are organized every other year by the Transplant Life Foundation of Grand Rapids, Michigan. The event was hosted in Birmingham on July 5–10, 2024, with 3,000 plus competitors in 20 events.

The opening ceremony was held at Legacy Arena on July 6 with a parade of athletes and special celebrations for living donors and for veterans. A "TGA Village" and "TGA Expo" were held in the exhibit halls alongside competitive events. Various workshops programs were given in the meeting rooms. A companion film series was screened at the BJCC Forum Theatre.

Most of the events were scheduled for the Birmingham-Jefferson Convention Complex. Some events had separate competitions for "solid organ" recipients, with organ donors and those receiving tissue or marrow transplants competing separately. The 5K was open to members of the public as supporters.

Sponsors for the 2024 Transplant Games included UAB Medicine, the Greater Birmingham Convention & Visitors Bureau, Jefferson County, the City of Birmingham, Medical Properties Trust, Eurofins Transplant Genomics, Sanofi, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Alabama, Gift of Life Michigan, CareDX, Coca-Cola, Takeda, Natera, and Legacy of Hope.

Events

• 5K Run / Walk, Richard Arrington Jr Boulevard North (start/end)
• Badminton, BJCC East Exhibit Hall
• Ballroom Dancing, BJCC East Exhibit Hall Stage
• Basketball, BJCC North Exhibit Hall
• Bowling, Vestavia Bowl
• Cornhole, BJCC East Exhibit Hall
• Cycling, Barber Motorsports Park
• Darts, BJCC East Exhibit Hall
• Golf, Highland Park Golf Course
• Lyrics for Life, BJCC East Exhibit Hall Stage
• Pickleball, BJCC
• Swimming, Birmingham Crossplex
• Table Tennis, BJCC North Exhibit Hall
• Tennis, Hoover Met
• Texas Hold'Em Poker, BJCC Ballroom A
• Track and Field, UAB Track & Field Complex and Birmingham Crossplex
• Trivia Challenge, BJCC East Ballroom
• Virtual Triathlon, Birmingham Crossplex and Birmingham-Southern College
• Volleyball, BJCC North Exhibit Hall
• Youth Olympiad, BJCC East Exhibit Hall

References

• Garrison, Greg (July 3, 2024) "Transplant Games bring 3,000 athletes to Birmingham to highlight organ donation." AL.com
• Cardone, Jen (July 5, 2024) "Transplant Games of America Begins Week-Long Event Today in Birmingham." CBS 42/The Birmingham Times

External links

• Transplant Games of America website