World Transplant Games
1239. Maurice Slapak
Dr Maurice Slapak created the ‘World Transplant Games’ in which every competitor has a donated organ.
Maurice, a former surgeon, established the games in 1978 to demonstrate the success of transplants by showcasing the potential of athletes with donor organs. He has grown the group into the ‘World Transplant Games Federation’, an international competition with 60 member countries and thousands of athletes who compete every two years. The 41st games took place in Newcastle in August 2019, and saw 2,500 competitors participate.
Dr Maurice Slapak received his award from Prime Minister Boris Johnson at an official Downing Street reception celebrating the NHS.
In a personal letter to Maurice, Prime Minister Boris Johnson said:
“I know you do this with no thought of praise or reward, but allow me to offer my own recognition of how you created and curated the World Transplant Games, which once again this summer in Newcastle, have brought together thousands of competitors from sixty different countries. The extraordinary success of these games, now in their 41st year, show to the world the limitless potential of athletes with donor organs.”