LPWire: U.S. Olympian Chris Klug and Actor Larry Hagman Kick Off 2002 U.S. Transplant Games - LaughingPlace.com: Disney World, Disneyland and More

LPWire: U.S. Olympian Chris Klug and Actor Larry Hagman Kick Off 2002 U.S. Transplant Games

cklug004_1068.jpg (23536 bytes)
(c) Walt Disney World
U.S. Olympian Chris Klug, left, and girlfriend Missy April participate in the 'Share a Dream Come True' parade at the Magic Kingdom

U.S. Olympian Chris Klug and Actor Larry Hagman Kick Off 2002 U.S. Transplant Games

The 2002 U.S. Transplant Games at Disney's Wide World of Sports Complex promises to be an athletic event like no other, filled with emotion, personal achievement and medical miracles. Two thousand participants, all of whom have received some type of life-saving organ transplant (kidney, heart, lung, liver, bone marrow, etc.) will complete in 13 sports at Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando, Fla.

Hagman2_1071.jpg (20145 bytes)
(c) Walt Disney World

On June 26, U.S. Olympian Chris Klug, a liver transplant recipient and a 2002 Olympic snowboarding bronze medallist, kicked off the 2002 competition with an appearance in the "Share a Dream Come True" parade at the Magic Kingdom (see below).

ChrisKlug_1070.jpg (29373 bytes)
(c) Walt Disney World
U.S. Olympian and liver transplant recipient Chris Klug (Aspen, Colo.) lights the torch June 26 during the opening ceremonies of the 2002 U.S. Transplant Games at Disney's Wide World of Sports Complex in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. Klug, who captured a bronze medal in snowboarding at the 2002 Winter Olympic Games, welcomed more than 2,000 transplant athletes to Walt Disney World Resort who will compete in 13 sports June 26-29.

The biennial U.S. Transplant Games, presented by the National Kidney Foundation, celebrates the achievements of those individuals who have received or donated life-saving organ transplants. The 2002 U.S. Transplant Games is being held June 26-29 at Disney's Wide World of Sports Complex. In addition to proving that transplant recipients can lead normal lives, the event encourages others to become organ donors.

--Posted June 28, 2002
Source: Walt Disney World