Imogen CalderwoodMALAGA will host the 2017 Transplant Olympic Games, after defeating bids from Berlin and Tokyo.
This is the first time a Spanish city will host the revolutionary games, with more than 1,700 competitors from 64 countries taking part.
The Junta’s general secretary for tourism, Vicente Granados has had a kidney transplant and has participated as an athlete in several games.
“It is very emotional to see how people who have been so ill can run 100 metres on the flat in less than 11 seconds,” he said.
Malaga’s Provincial Hospital – previously the Carlos Haya hospital – broke the record for kidney transplants in one day, after completing five in 15 hours.
In the past three years the Andalucia donation rate has topped the Spanish national average, which is already the highest in the world.
