Games highlight organ donor plea

The organisers hope to encourage people to register as organ donors

The 30th British Transplant Games have started in Edinburgh with a parade through the city centre.

More than 600 athletes who have received an organ donation will compete in the four-day games.

Health Secretary Nicola Sturgeon added her name to the organ donor register when she met athletes before the opening ceremony.

The games aim to encourage people to register as organ donors and highlight how transplants can save lives.

There are currently 800 Scots waiting for a donor organ, with numbers increasing annually. Many die without receiving a transplant.

Despite leading the world in many areas of transplant medicine, Britain lags behind many other countries in registered donors.

People see the direct benefits of organ donation, as they witness these amazing athletes triumph over life-threatening conditions Lynne Holt British Transplant Games

The athletes are of mixed ages and abilities, and will be competing in a range of sports from pool to track and field events.

Sporting events including swimming, cycling and sprinting will take place at venues across the city until Sunday.

Organisers say the focus of this year's event will be on the 200 children taking part, all of whom have undergone life-saving transplants.

Lynne Holt, chairman of the 2007 British Transplant Games, said: "All these children have been through so much already, some of them as young as two years old, but they are all competing with the same spirit and zest for life that pulled them through the traumatic transplant operations.

"By staging these events, people see the direct benefits of organ donation as they witness these amazing athletes triumph over life-threatening conditions."

Speaking at the opening ceremony, Nicola Sturgeon said: "Donating an organ is the most important gift you can give - the gift of life."

Sir Jimmy Saville was also present at the official opening of the games.

The television celebrity was also guest of honour at the first games in Portsmouth in 1978.