03/07/07

Games Review  /  2005 Games Preview

The 14th World Transplant Games
19th - 27th July 2003
Nancy - France

Purpose

Nancy is a beautiful town in the Lorraine valley in the north east of France.

It is the first time that the games have been held in France.

I arrived as usual at my destination without my golf clubs, they enjoyed travelling with BA so much that they decided to stay on the flight back to London and come back to France on the next flight out.   I should not have been surprised because when we were checking in at Newcastle airport I discovered that I had turned up with passports belonging to my sons, instead of mine and Christine's.

A frantic dash back home to pick up the proper passports and I was able to check onto the flight with seconds to spare.   Being the last people to board the aircraft also means that our luggage was last, my clubs are oversized luggage and  that I ever got them at all is something of an achievement.   I have the Japanese delegation to thank for transporting my clubs on a 5 hour coach journey from Charles De Gaulle airport to Nancy.   I was able to pick them up on the 2nd day from their hotel, as they say in Japanese - arrigatto.

As happens at all major sporting events there is an opening ceremony and the World Transplant Games is no exception.   There were 55 countries with a total of 1500 competitors to organise, photograph and assemble in alphabetic order so that they would march into the arena.  

The main square in Nancy is Stanislas Place and is a beautiful mediaeval square which is entered through a Grande Arch and is completely surrounded by magnificent buildings and golden gates.   I had a look at the square on the Sunday morning and could see all of the staging and scaffolding being put in place but I could not have imagined what was to come later that evening.

As the temperature in France was nearing 100 f degrees (37.7c) the GB squad was given permission not to wear the official uniform of shirt and tie and jacket.   I had taken enormous trouble carting all of this gear to France so no matter what the temperature I decide to wear mine anyway, Reg Chisholm, a Scot who is heavily involved in fundraising and awareness projects north of the border, and the team doctor Neil Parrot also wore theirs, and very smart we looked.   Reg and I decided we would bring up the rear of our team as we looked as if we were management and stood out in our attire.   I am sure Reg felt as proud to be representing his country as I was.

The French authorities kept us hanging around for at least 2 hours outside of the square and some tempers were beginning to fray.   We could hear applause coming from the square and apparently the crowd were being entertained by a French pop group who went down very well.   After posing for an official team photo we took our place in the team line up for the march into the square.

The nearer we got to the Arc de Triomphe the one or two people who had been lining the route started to become dozens of people who were all behind crush barriers.   We were still outside of the square and were becoming aware of something special, as the night sky started to darken we could glimpse arc lights projecting into the night, and the noise from inside the golden gates was getting louder as we approached.

With about 20 yards to go before we entered the square the crowds on either side of the barriers were probably 5 deep and they were all clapping and smiling, it was then that it became apparent that this was going to be something none of us will ever forget.

Finally, some 3 hours after we had started to assemble we entered Stanislas Place to an almighty roar as the MC announced (in French), "The Great Britain & Northern Ireland team".

The noise was incredible and the organisers had created a route within the crush barriers that meant we marched as a team in a snake like manner through he square as close to as many of the crowd as is possible.   The sky was blackening by the minute and the flash of the cameras from the crowd and the TV cameras was exaggerated.  

There were 25,000 people in the square and I am convinced I passed within yards of every single one of them.   They were shouting to us and waving flags of all nationalities.   After only a few moments I began to realise what I was a part of and became very emotional.   All of these people had gathered to see me and the rest of the transplant athletes and they were giving us a fantastic welcome.   I was walking along in a daze wiping the tears from my eyes and was thinking of my donor.

Here was I being applauded into a town square in France because I was alive - how emotional is that?   I could not get the young man from my mind who had died to give me life by way of his heart.   I shall always think of him and at that moment in the square I am sure he was there with me.

After a couple of minutes although still very emotional I began to enjoy the experience and was waving back at the crowd and smiling through my now drying tears.   I made eye contact with a lady in the crowd and she beckoned me to come forward.   In French, she asked if I had  had a transplant, to which I obviously said yes.  (I think 'cos I had a shirt and tie on she did not think I was a competitor).

What sort of transplant? she asked and I put my hand to my heart and replied "Un coeur."   At that point she embraced me and started kissing me and I started to cry again.   I took my place back in the line up next to Reg and he started to get upset too.   We did not exchange many more words but each of us was thinking exactly the same (our donor).

As we continued our march, members of the team were dispensing team hats and Union Jacks to the crowd.   We could pick out small clusters of GB flags waving furiously at various points and could see our supporters, some 50 people who came with us to France.   It was also very noticeable that we were very popular with the USA and Canadian contingent in the crowd who were blowing kisses to us.   Likewise the people of Nancy who were giving a never to be forgotten welcome to all 1500 competitors.

It took another 10 minutes before we reached the end of the march into the square where we mounted a small podium and became the centre of the universe for a couple of seconds to rapturous applause.

We took our place as a team to listen to the official opening remarks in front of the stage with all of the committee of the WTGF and other dignitaries, including the Mayor of Nancy, Maurice Slapak (President), Michel Platini and Larry Hagman (JR remember?) who has had kidney transplant and is very high profile at the games, which is great.   (see photo)

There then followed a light show accompanied by classical music projected onto the buildings surrounding the square, which in truth went on a bit too long.   A couple of flashes of lightning and enormous claps of thunder saved the day and we started on our way back to our hotel.

I hope you have been able to share the emotion of the opening ceremony from my account as it is something I shall never forget.   I hope to compete at future games and if the opening ceremonies are half as good as that afforded by the people of Nancy it will be special.

I was just happy to be there!