COVENTRY launched the British Transplant Games with a spectacular opening ceremony in the city centre yesterday (July 27.)
Thousands of transplant athletes took part in a parade which finished at Broadgate.
The Voice UK star Adam Isaac, who had a successful kidney transplant last year at University Hospital, performed two songs at the ceremony.
A steel drum band kicked things off at the Cathedral Ruins before the Games teams followed a parade through the city which was led by a vintage Jaguar.
The classic car was bright pink the colour of organ donation.
There was also a live performance from the Black Living Donor Choir, a poetry reading from the relative of a transplant recipient, the lighting of the flame and the passing of Tom’s baton.
The Games, now in its 45th year, aims to raise awareness of the importance of organ donation.
Around 7,000 people are currently waiting for an organ transplant, including 200 children.
However, only around 1,400 people donate organs each year and on average someone dies every day waiting for a transplant.
The 2023 Games has over 2,500 people taking part, making it the second biggest edition of the event in its history.
