Blenheim is set to host three days of competition for the first time (August 23-25) as part of the European Transplant and Dialysis Games, which takes place the UK next week for the first time ever.
Blenheim Palace will be the venue for cycling, the 5km mini marathon and petanque.
Running from 21st – 28th August, the Games feature a week of multi-sport competition amongst over 400 solid organ transplant recipients and kidney dialysis patients from over 25 countries across Europe.
The event will open on Sunday August 21 with a parade and opening ceremony held at the iconic Sheldonian Theatre.
“We are very much looking forward to welcoming athletes from across Europe as part of the games,” said Heather Carter, operations director at Blenheim Palace.
“Blenheim provides a stunning backdrop for what I am sure will be some incredibly exciting and competitive events and I am sure our visitors will be cheering all the athletes on across each of the three days.
“Both the cycling and mini marathon will be taking place in the evening around the estate, while the petanque will be in the magnificent surroundings of the Palace’s Great Court she added.
Other events will take place at Radley College, which is also the venue for the Games Athletes’ Village.
The Games have been brought to Oxford by Transplant Sport, the UK charity raising awareness of the life-saving benefits of organ donation and the importance of staying active post-transplant.
First staged in Athens in 2000, the event has subsequently been held bi-annually in nine different European countries. We’re excited to be involved in hosting The Games this year, the first time they have come to the United Kingdom.
The Games is being organised by the team from the Oxford Transplant Centre at Churchill Hospital and provide a major opportunity to promote the huge benefits of organ donation and amazing life-saving impact of organ transplantation.
These Games will be an invaluable means to help transplant recipients and dialysis patients re-engage socially and provide an invaluable goal for the next 12 months.
For more information and to book tickets online visit www.blenheimpalace.com
