Athletics

Appeal to help with sporting summer in Medway

The focus may be on the Olympic Games this summer, but there is a major sporting event taking place on our doorstep this year - and you have a chance to help it be a great success.

Medway is hosting the 35th British Transplant Games which will take place at Medway Park in Gillingham between August 23 and 26. It will take place following the end of the London Games and the start of the Paralympics.

The British Transplant Games now regularly attract over 600 competitors and more than 1,000 people are set to flock to watch the events. The Games were last held in Belfast, and it is seen as a coup for Medway to be hosting this year’s event. The Games were officially launched in November at Rochester Castle.

Organised on behalf of Transplant Sport UK, the purpose of the Games is to encourage transplant patients to regain fitness, promote friendship and co-operation between those taking part and to increase public awareness of the value of organ donation.

And now Medway Council is calling on residents to help make it an event to remember.

A spokesman for the council said: “We are signing up Medway sports ambassadors to help with this and other local and national events being staged in Medway this year, including the Medway Mile, the National England Basketball Play-off Finals and The Medway Festival of Sport.

“More than 100 local volunteers helped deliver Medway’s first global sporting event, the Modern Pentathlon World Cup in April 2010, and many returned for the 2011 Modern Pentathlon European Championships.”

The 2012 Games will take place at Medway Park, with sporting events also taking place across Medway and North Kent. The event will aid selection of the Great Britain team for the World Transplant Games.

To find out more about being a Medway sports ambassador or to register your interest email sportsdevteam@medway.gov.uk or call 01634 338764.