There were great celebrations on a Dublin university campus Sunday 8th August 2010 when the official opening of the European Transplant & Dialysis Games took place - and the theme of the Games will be to honour ‘the gift of life'.

Athletes taking part in the Games are either on dialysis treatment at the moment, or have received a transplant of one, or a combination, of the following: kidney, liver, heart, pancreas, lungs, and bone marrow.

"These Games are incredibly special, because every athlete who takes to the starting-line has already won a major personal battle to just be there," said Irish team captain Mick Dwyer, who received a kidney transplant ten years ago.

"I give thanks to my donor every day of my life, and especially at Games like this. Athletes on dialysis will also celebrate the gift of life, and look forward to the day they get their own transplant."

Over 350 transplant and dialysis athletes from all over Europe have converged on DCU, where the Games Village will be located until next Saturday's gala closing ceremony. They took part in today's colourful opening ceremony, led by the RTE's Mary Kennedy, who acted as MC for the evening.

"Planning for these Games has taken the best part of two years. It is a major logistical undertaking, particularly as we have athletes who will require dialysis while they are here in Dublin," said Colin White, Chairman of the Games Organising Committee.

"The sports involved are badminton, tenpin bowling, cycling, darts, track & field, golf, mini-marathon, petanque, swimming, table tennis, tennis, and volleyball. We have a dedicated team of volunteers who will make it all happen."

The competing countries are Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, and the United Kingdom.

Athletics legend Eamonn Coghlan has already paid tribute to the athletes. "Everyone's a winner in these Games," he told the Irish team when he met them for a motivational talk last month.

He added: "You have displayed not only your love of sport, but your love of life, and you are an inspiration to all of us."

Ireland will have a record 71 athletes at the Games.

The Irish team is made up of athletes from Antrim (1), Cavan (3), Clare (2), Cork (5), Dublin (22), Galway (5), Kerry (2), Kildare (3), Kilkenny (3), Leitrim (1), Limerick (1), Longford (1), Louth (1), Mayo (3), Meath (3), Monaghan (1), Roscommon (3), Sligo (1), Tipperary (3), Wexford (3), and Wicklow (4).

The full Irish team is as follows:

Antrim (1) - John McAleer, Whiteabbey;

Cavan (3) - Eamonn Malone, Cavan town; Paul Donohoe, Doogary, Rose Dalton, Mullahoran;

Clare (2) - Jennifer Tuohy, Scariff; Marie O'Connor, Lahinch;

Cork (5) - Anne-Marie Lankester, Ballinascarthy; Catherine Murphy, Aghabullogue; Charlie Ryan, Cobh; Mike Keohane, Rosscarbery; Valerie Twomey, Crosshaven;

Dublin (22) - Angela Sherlock, Walkinstown; Anne Smyth, Baldoyle; Barry Delves, Loughshinny; Ben Gaughran, Skerries; Chikoyo White, Balbriggan; Deirdre Faul, Dalkey; Harry Ward, Baldoyle; James Reynolds, Tallaght; John Moran, Glasnevin; John Traynor, Clondalkin; Leonard Ryan, Tallaght; Liam Dunne, Terenure; Mark Fitzsimons, Dublin 12; Michael Dwyer, Cabinteely; Owen Kelleher, Lucan; Paul Bryan, Templeogue; Paul Prendergast, Santry; Peter Heffernan, Skerries; Philip Martin, Swords; Sandra Doyle, Whitehall; Terry Mangan, Templeogue; Tom Metcalfe, Stepaside;

Galway (5) - Declan O'Doherty, Loughrea; Enda Ansbro, Cortoon; Eoin Madden, Athenry; Linda Meyler, Athenry; Michael Lydon, Moycullen;

Kerry (2) - Colm Clifford, Milltown; Con Brosnan, Killarney;

Kildare (3) - Elaine Maguire, Athy; James Nolan, Kilcullen; Sonia Treacy, Newbridge;

Kilkenny (3) - Emma O'Sullivan, Ballyraggett; John Paul O'Neill, Castlecomer; Laima Chvedukiene, Inistioge;

Leitrim (1) - Cathriona Charles, Mohill;

Limerick (1) - John Loftus, Clarina;

Longford (1) - James Hannon,

Louth (1) - Gareth McBride, Drogheda;

Mayo (3) - Darren Cawley, Westport; Liam Duffy, Kilkelly; Regina Hennelly, Manulla;

Meath (3) - John Casey, Enfield; Rachel Eagleton, Bettystown; Tony Gavigan, Navan;

Monaghan (1) - Johns George, Carrickmacross;

Roscommon (3) - John Henry, Cootehall; Monica Finn, Roscommon town; Pat Hegarty, Ballintubber;

Sligo (1) - Bridie Nicholson, Sligo town;

Tipperary (3) - Edward Crowe, Carrick-on-Suir; Orla Ryan, Nenagh; Sheila Gregan, Nenagh;

Wexford (3) - Brenda Cullen, Ballyduff; Edward Kehoe, Castlebridge; Joseph Kent, Castlebridge;

Wicklow (4) - Garrett Campbell, Greystones; Philip Kavanagh, Arklow; Seamus Eager, Kilcoole; Tony Gartland, Hacketstown;

Medical Director of the Games is Dr Yvonne Ryan from Beaumont Hospital, Dublin, and Chief Physio is Clare Hogan, Cork. A team of volunteers will ensure that all events run smoothly.

Mark Murphy, the CEO of the Irish Kidney Association, and Colin White are both members of the European Transplant & Dialysis Games governing body.

A special website has been built - www.2010newlife.com - where supporters can follow the Games and send messages of support. The site and will carry daily updates and reports.

For an organ donor card FREETEXT the word ‘DONOR' to 50050.