Going for gold

Two Clare athletes have been included in the Irish team for the European Transplant and Dialysis games, which will be held in Dublin next month from August 8 to 15.

Jennifer Tuohy from Scariff and Marie O’Connor from Lahinch are part of the 70-strong Irish team for the event, which is being hosted by Ireland for the first time. They have both represented Ireland at previous games.
A total of 350 athletes from 24 European countries will take part.
The European Transplant and Dialysis Games take place every second year. At the 2008 Games, in Wurzburg, Germany, the Irish team finished third on the medals table from 24 competing countries. Ireland brought home a total of 42 medals.
“Everyone’s a winner in these games,” athletics legend Eamonn Coghlan told the Irish athletes at a motivational talk at the ALSAA complex in Dublin yesterday. Every athlete at the games will either be on dialysis, or have already received kidney, liver, heart, lungs, pancreas or bone marrow transplants.
“You have all fought huge personal battles to just get to the starting-line for these games. You have displayed not only your love of sport, but your love of life, and you are an inspiration to all of us,” said Coghlan.
The team will form Ireland’s biggest representation at the games. Team manager Colin White said that hosting the games in Dublin “means so much to so many people who are facing organ failure, are on dialysis or have transplants”.
“We are delighted with the numbers of athletes who will take part in Irish colours. These Games are all about taking part, celebrating good health and life and creating some fabulous memories,” he added.
The athletes come from all over Ireland and range in age from 18 to 72 and for many of them this will be their first time competing at this level.
“We honour our donors by showing that organ transplantation works. That’s a vital message to promote as the need for a life-saving organ transplant can visit a family with devastating speed, and at any age, even babies and children,” said team captain Mick Dwyer, who had a kidney transplant 11 years ago. It will be his seventh games at either European or world level.
“The games show the benefits, both physical and psychological, that people on dialysis gain by participating in regular sport and exercise.”
The competing countries are Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden and the United Kingdom.
Athletes will compete in badminton, cycling, darts, track & field, golf, mini-marathon, petanque, swimming, table tennis, 10-pin bowling, tennis, and volleyball.
Supporters can follow the games and send messages of support at www.2010newlife.com. The site will also carry daily updates and reports.