Cherishing Life's Blessings - Grateful Athlete: "Blessed with a Second Chance"
In the heart of Germany, the historic city of Dresden played host to the World Transplant Games for the first time in the event's more than 40-year history. From August 17 to 25, 2023, the city welcomed over 2,200 participants and helpers from 51 nations, all of whom had received organ transplants and were eager to compete in 17 sports[1].
The World Transplant Games, a biennial international multi-sport event, aims to promote amateur sports among organ transplant recipients, living donors, and donor families[2]. The Games, which began in 1978 in Portsmouth, England, have since grown to include nearly 70 member countries recognized by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) since 2013 and 2021. The event alternates between summer and winter games and includes recipients of various organ transplants, including liver, heart, lung, kidney, pancreas, or bone marrow[2].
One of the athletes who made a significant impact at the games was Paul Knuepfer, a 34-year-old Dresden native who was diagnosed with an autoimmune disease when he was 17 years old[6]. The disease caused his liver to be attacked by his own cells, leading to cirrhosis and eventually liver cancer. In April 2021, Knuepfer received a new liver, and since then, he has been able to participate in sports, travel, and pursue his dream job as a teacher of music and history[5].
At the games, Knuepfer competed in various sports, including golf, table tennis, football, and the 800-meter run[4]. He believes that there is not enough emphasis on the topic of organ donation and hopes that his participation in the games will help raise awareness about the importance of organ donation[7]. Knuepfer often thinks about his unknown organ donor and tries to honor their memory through his lifestyle[8].
The World Transplant Games is more than just a competitive event. It is a platform for promoting organ donation awareness, celebrating the life-saving and life-enhancing effects of transplantation, and fostering community and inspiration for recipients. The Games emphasize the impact of immunosuppressant drugs on performance and provide a competitive level playing field for transplant recipients[2].
As of the end of 2024, around 400 people in Saxony were waiting for a transplant, according to the Ministry of Health[3]. The World Transplant Games in Dresden served as a reminder of the importance of organ donation and the life-changing impact it can have for people like Paul Knuepfer.
[1] World Transplant Games [2] World Transplant Games Federation [3] Ministry of Health, Saxony [4] Dresden 2023 [5] Dresden 2023: Paul Knuepfer [6] Paul Knuepfer's story [7] Paul Knuepfer on organ donation [8] Paul Knuepfer on his organ donor
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