Dear Athletes, Supporters, and Transplant Community,

We’re counting down the days to the 2025 World Transplant Games in Dresden, and we’re excited to share important updates to help you prepare for this incredible event. From medical processes to sports rules and pricing insights, here’s everything you need to know!

1. New Medical Process: A Simpler System

🏥 After careful consultation, the WTGF Medical Committee has streamlined the medical process to be more efficient and participant-friendly:

• Goodbye, Old Forms! Key medical information will now be collected at registration rather than through lengthy forms completed months in advance.

• In the past, the complex medical form were often filled out well before the Games, and blood results and medical data were outdated by the time of competition. The majority of participants have stable transplant function and are fit to compete, so this new system reflects their ongoing health while still focusing on those who may require additional support.

New Approach Highlights:

• Participants will declare that they’ve received clearance from their transplant doctors to compete in their chosen sports.

• The key details to be submitted at registration include your transplant center, medical personnel, blood pressure readings, medications, allergies, and any hospitalisations in the past six months.

• A medical waiver has been added, placing responsibility on participants to ensure they’ve provided accurate medical information and consulted with their transplant physician about their fitness to compete.

📋 If hospitalisations or significant medical events are reported, additional documentation will be required, and the medical team will conduct a review to ensure safety.

This process is designed to be simpler and more convenient while still ensuring that any participants with notable medical concerns are properly supported. The Dresden LOC will provide more detailed information and demonstrations soon!

2. Medical and Repatriation Insurance: Optional Add-On

To provide greater flexibility for all participants, medical and repatriation insurance is now an optional add-on:

Many participants and supporters may already have adequate coverage through their personal travel insurance or national health policies.

If you choose to opt out of the WTG insurance, you must upload proof of your existing coverage during registration.

Important: All participants must have valid medical and repatriation insurance—either from their own provider or purchased during registration.

A signed waiver will be required to confirm that you understand the responsibility for securing proper coverage rests with you.

Team Managers must verify that all team members have appropriate insurance in place.

This approach allows you to select the option that best suits your personal needs while ensuring everyone remains protected.Further details on the medical plan will be shared closer to the time.

3. Sports Rulebook & Key Changes

🏅 The 2025 Sports Rules are now available on the WTGF website. Here’s a summary of what’s new:

• Team Events No Longer Count Toward Individual Entries: Football, basketball, and volleyball team events will not count as one of your five individual sport entries.

•Expanded Eligibility: Both allogeneic and autologous bone marrow recipients can now compete. Clarifications have also been made regarding donor family and living donor eligibility.

• New Age Group for Donor Family/Living Donor Athletes: A third age group has been introduced, with specific groupings confirmed after registration closes.

• New Events for Donor Family/Living Donor Athletes: Participants can now choose from up to five events, including road race, petanque singles, darts, golf pairs, swimming (multiple 50m events), track and field events, and the triathlon.

• Archery Added; Lawn Bowls Removed: Archery is making its debut, while lawn bowls has been retired. This is in line with the LOC being able to choose an additional event.

• Rule Changes:

o 3-on-3 Basketball: Rules now align with Olympic standards.

o Football: Updated to reflect the Transplant Football World Cup guidelines.

o Darts: Competition format has been changed

o Golf: Format from the 2019 WTG in Newcastle, UK will be used in Dresden.

o Volleyball Net Height: Now set at 2.35 meters for a consistent playing field.

o Triathlon – the requirement to demonstrate open water swimming has been removed.

🚨 Register Early! The organisers have set capacity limits for some sports where they expect demand to be very high. This applies to badminton singles, golf singles, darts singles, and tennis singles, so don’t wait to secure your entry! These sports will be secured on a first come first serve basis.

For doubles and team events, registrations indicate your interest, and team managers will arrange pairings and submit official entries.

4. Hall of Fame: Honoring More Athletes

🏆The WTGF is expanding the Hall of Fame criteria to honor even more of our extraordinary athletes:

New Criteria: Induction now includes those who have attended 10 Summer Games or 15 combined Summer and Winter Games.

Member organizations will receive forms to nominate eligible athletes.

Honorees will be celebrated at the Dresden Games—be ready to applaud these remarkable individuals!

5. Registration Prices: A Closer Look

We understand the concerns regarding registration fees and would like to provide some context to explain the pricing:

• Cost of Organizing World-Class Events: Hosting top-tier sports events incurs significant expenses, including venue rentals, road closures, referees, equipment, timing systems, branding, insurance, scheduling software, registration systems, staffing, marketing, water provision, volunteer coordination, and social events such as the Opening Ceremony, Cultural Evening, and Gala Dinner.

• Global Economic Factors: The COVID-19 pandemic was a key driver of inflation in many countries, including Germany. Rising labor and material costs, exacerbated by the war in Ukraine, have further increased expenses.

• Government Funding Disparities: Government support can vary greatly. For instance, the 2023 Perth Games received from double the amount of government funding, grants and sponsorships, while than the 2019 Games held in Newcastle, UK. Unfortunately, Germany has less access to funding due to low national organ donation rates and is also required to include a 19% VAT in registration prices, as per legal regulations.

• Budget Transparency: The Dresden Local Organizing Committee (LOC) sets registration fees based on a detailed budget to ensure the Games remain financially viable and meet all deliverables. Importantly, the capitation fee paid to the World Transplant Games Federation (WTGF) has not increased since Perth. However, the LOC’s sponsorship and funding efforts have not reached the desired levels.

Supporter Fees: Why They Differ

In Perth, the LOC was able to offer lower supporter fees due to additional funding and specific decisions. In Dresden, implementing such a reduction would increase athlete registration costs. The LOC chose to prioritize athlete subsidies over reduced supporter packages. Despite these financial challenges, the Dresden LOC is committed to optimizing costs wherever possible. They have worked tirelessly to minimize registration price increases and ensure that the Games continue to raise awareness and inspire policy changes to improve organ donation rates in Germany. They continue to explore ways to further improve some of the package pricing ahead of registration opening.

6. How You Can Participate in the World Transplant Games

Participation in the World Transplant Games (WTG) must be processed through the official WTGF member organisation in your country. To register, you must work directly with your country’s official member organisation.

For Countries Without a Member Organization:
If your country does not have an official WTGF member organisation, please contact the WTGF office at wtgf@wtgf.org for assistance.
Please note that you cannot register separately from your member country organisation.

7. Youth Development Program

The WTGF is passionate about increasing youth participation in the Games! A Youth Development Program will be launched ahead of the Dresden Games to encourage more young athletes to join and experience the life-changing spirit of competition and community. This program will provide subsidies for a specific amount of juniors. Individuals will be required to make an application. Currently, one free junior athlete place per country is already granted by the LOC. This program will hopefully help more juniors attend the games.

We’re so excited to welcome you all to Dresden for a celebration of life, resilience, and the power of sport! Thank you for your understanding, support, and passion as we work to create an unforgettable experience for everyone.

💪Get ready for an incredible journey—registration opens soon!

Warm regards,
The WTGF Team

Contact: wtgf@wtgf.org