The 25th World Transplant Games: A Celebration of Life Like No Other

The curtain has fallen on the 25th World Transplant Games in Dresden, and the world is still buzzing. After seven days of sport, emotion, and unforgettable stories, more than 2,500 athletes, families, and supporters from 51 nations left the city with one phrase on their lips: “the best Games ever.”

🎽 A Finale to Remember

The Games closed in cinematic style with the final athletics competitions, the traditional Circle of Life at Heinz-Steyer-Stadium, and the symbolic handover of the Baton of Life to Leuven, Belgium, the next host city in 2027. The evening ended with the Gala Dinner, where athletes, families, and volunteers celebrated together, reflecting on a week that will never be forgotten.

🏅 Beyond the Medals

Team Great Britain topped the medal table with an astonishing 173 gold, 132 silver, and 98 bronze medals, followed by Team Germany and Team USA. But these Games were never just about medals, what resonated most were the countless stories of courage and resilience, proof that organ donation doesn’t just save lives, it gives life back.

🌟 Highlights that Touched the World

• Competitions in 17 sports, from triathlon at Brettmühlenteich to swimming at Freiberger Straße.

• The moving Intercultural Celebration at the Frauenkirche, where voices and cultures blended in gratitude.

• Patron Elke Büdenbender and WTG ambassador Roland Kaiser, both transplant recipients, sharing stories of hope that brought tears and inspiration in equal measure.

💚 The Heart of Gratitude

None of this would have been possible without the dedication of medical teams, volunteers, partners, and sponsors. Doctors from the University Hospital and Städtisches Klinikum Dresden ensured the health and safety of all. Volunteers gave not just their time, but their hearts, welcoming athletes and families with warmth that turned strangers into friends.

WTGF President Liz Schick summed it up best:

“Thank you Dresden! I am simply overwhelmed by what has happened here. Again and again, we heard: ‘The best organized Games ever.’”

📊 The Numbers that Speak Volumes

• 5,953,928 gifted days and 16,312 gifted years of life recorded across participants.

• Youngest athlete: 5 years old | Oldest athlete: 89 years old.

• 120 experts gathered at the IPSOT Medical Symposium.

• 100,000 organ donor cards distributed, the largest single initiative in German history.

🌍 A Legacy Beyond Dresden

From day one to the closing ceremony, Dresden stood as a city of hospitality, compassion, and unity. Dr. Eberhard Schollmeyer of TransDia Sport Deutschland e.V. captured it perfectly:

“Everyone felt welcome here. I have heard it again and again, these were the best Games ever.”

The World Transplant Games 2025 will be remembered not only as a showcase of athletic achievement, but as a global celebration of life, gratitude, and second chances.

As we hand the Baton of Life to Leuven 2027, we carry with us the memories, inspiration, and the eternal message of the Games:
Together, we honour donors. Together, we celebrate life. Together, we thrive.