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FREEMAN HEART & LUNG TRANSPLANT ASSOCIATION REGISTERED CHARITY 700730 |
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The 12th European Heart & Lung Transplant Games Vichy - France
A review of the games and loads of photographs The Freeman squad's medal haul was: 21 Gold / 22 Silver / 10 Bronze Full details soon. For any first timers or those who are 'just thinking about it' and would like more information, please contact Freeman Sports Team Manager, Graham Marsh for a chat. Graham Marsh - Sports Manager / 07950 634008
The official website which contains a full list of all results: 12th European Heart & Lung Transplant Games The GB Team is managed by David Walker and we are all members of the British Heart & Lung Transplant Association - BHLTA. Our own Judith Burgess is secretary. Graham Marsh and Joan Whitney also sit on the committee of the BHLTA. The Freeman representatives and supporters were:
Review of the Games A full set of Results times and distances can be found here. The European Heart & Lung transplant Games, in my opinion, are easily the best in the transplant sporting calendar. The competition may not be as fierce as say the World or British Games, but many of the medal winners compete at the 'highest' level too. Nevertheless, each and every competitor has the right to take part and in doing so help raise the awareness of the importance of the donor card programme and show what a difference can be made. There were approximately 50 competitors and 40 supporters in the GB Squad of which the Freeman hospital contingent was 20 competitors and 11 supporters. As always our supporters were magnificent and they make the Games so much more pleasurable by their attendance. Competitors, friends, families and donors from all parts of the European Union gathered in Vichy, France for the Opening Ceremony of the 12th European Transplant Games on Saturday 21st June 2008 followed by a gala dinner in the fabulous setting of the 'palace in the park', The Opera House. A special thanks to Terry Woods' brother Keith and his lovely wife Louise who sponsored our new look GB polo shirts. Very smart we looked too. The opening ceremony was just a tad too long because of the translations and repetitive nature of the opening remarks (especially in the +30°C) by the local dignitaries, but who am I to deny the great and the good their undoubtedly warm words of welcome. The highlight, for me, was the beautiful balletic dance by the young ladies to Ravel's Bolero which was quite hypnotic and lasted some 20 minutes. The opening ceremony was followed by a gala dinner of haute cuisine at it's finest. Each evening we were wined and dined by our hosts in fine style, including a barbecue on the banks of the lake. We were also given free tickets to the Opera for an Edith Piaf tribute evening in the magnificent Opera House which was worth the visit alone even if the performance itself was not exactly my tasse de thé. The Games - in general were very well organised but the athletics on the final day ran way over time because of the medal presentations. It is surely not beyond the wit of man to organise these presentations so that events can run simultaneously. It would also be a good idea to have two podiums so that medals are presented on one and photographs taken at another in an attempt to speed matters up. The gala dinner on the final evening was a farce because it started two and a quarter hours late due to medal presentations being made to every swimmer in the Games it seemed. The swimmers are entitled to be presented with their medals but not at the expense of diners who having rushed to the venue are then made to sit around for an inordinate length of time unfed. I don't want to complain too much because these Games were in the main excellent and better than anything and everything that took place two years ago in the shambolic city of Naples. That the Italians have been expelled should come as no surprise to anyone who attended in 2006. Vichy restored my faith in the concept that is the European Games and anyone attending for the first time could not fail to be impressed. They will surely return, health permitting, in Sweden in 2010. Summary - The Games were a wonderful occasion and remain the highlight of my sporting calendar. Vichy did not disappoint. Meeting up with friends and rivals from all parts of Europe was just as big a thrill and pleasure as always. We all made made many new friends and renewed old acquaintances and we are both looking forward, health permitting, to Sweden in 2010. My compliments to the GB Team Manager, David Walker and his lovely wife Ann for their patience and good humour on what is a hectic week for both. I think I speak on behalf of the whole team when saying, they went that extra mile for all of us again and it is very much appreciated. Thank you both.
The 13th European Games If you would like to join us please get in touch.
The photographs will be published in the next few days, following my 'MOT'.
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