A 19-strong Irish team departed Dublin Airport for the 17th World Transplant Games on Australia’s Gold Coast this morning.
The athletes, all of whom have received at least one life-saving organ donation, will compete against representatives from 50 other countries in 14 sports ranging from table-tennis to swimming.
Irish team manager, Colin White said the games were "life-affirming".
"These have come through very tough times in their lives and still want to compete for Ireland, they're the bravest of the brave", said Mr White.
The team members vary in age between 22 and 64, with "13 new kidneys, five new livers and one new kidney-pancreas" between them.
Team captain Mick Dwyer, who had a kidney transplant ten years ago, said all the team members would be thinking of their donors over the course of the trip. "Before every event at the Games, we will remember our donors. In most cases, we don't know who passed away to give us the gift of life, but we are eternally grateful to the donors and their families".
The Games begin this Saturday and end on August 30th. Members of the public can follow the team's progress on Transplantteamireland.com.