FAQs
What are the CTA Games?
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The Canadian Transplant Games are the premiere athletic celebration of sport for transplant recipients from across the country. The focus of the Games is to provide a venue of national competition.
Where and when are the 2026 Games?
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The Games are being held in Sherbrooke, QC, July 5-11, 2026. Accommodations and many of the events are at Bishop’s University.
What are the goals of the CTA Games?
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To encourage transplant recipients to live a healthy and active lifestyle post-transplant.
To connect our wonderful community, compete and celebrate - and most importantly, have fun!
The other goal of the CTA Games is to encourage Canadians to register their consent as organ donors. There are currently more than 4,000 people in our country waiting for their gift of life. Some of them will die while waiting. Let’s give hope to those waiting for transplant by using the Canadian Transplant Games and our athletes' accomplishments as a platform to raise awareness of the benefits of organ donation.
I'm not super athletic - is that okay?
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Every athlete, regardless of skill level, is welcome. For everyone, just crossing the finish line is already a victory.
Do I need to qualify?
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Other than general health requirements, there are no try-outs or qualifying events, time trials etc. required to be allowed to participate in any of the sports in the Games.
But we encourage you to be training in the sport(s) of your choice and have spoken with your transplant team for any of the more vigorous sports.
Who can participate?
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Recipients – Entry is open to recipients of life supporting stem cell, tissue and organ transplants, who require, or have required, the use of immunosuppressive drug therapies. Competitors must have been transplanted for at least 1 year, with stable graft function, be medically fit and have trained at the events in which they have entered. If a potential competitor has been transplanted for at least 6 months, with stable graft function, has been training and has permission from his own doctor, his/her entry may be considered by the CTA medical committee and be allowed.
Living Donors – Athletes who have personally donated life-supporting stem cells, tissue and/or an organ.
Deceased Donor Family Member – Close family members of a deceased donor.
Supporter (athlete) – Close friends and/or extended family members of transplant recipients, living donors or deceased donors. Supporter athletes are limited to 2 per transplant recipient or deceased donor.
Supporters (non-competing) – Close friends and/or extended family members of transplant recipients, living donors or deceased donors.
How can I contact you?
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You can reach us anytime via our contact page or email. We aim to respond quickly—usually within one business day.
Who needs to register?
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Registration Forms must be completed for everyone (adults and children) attending and/or participating in the Canadian Transplant Games.
Do I need to be a member of the Canadian Transplant Association to Register?
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Yes! You must be a member of the CTA to register. Becoming a member is FREE and easy. Complete your registration today: Register Here
How do I pay?
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You will be asked to pay by card at the end of the registration process. This will be the only method of payment available.
I live locally - can I have a discount on registration?
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The CTA does everything it can to keep participation costs as low as possible so that many folks in the transplant community can take part in the games. The registration fees collected do not cover all associated costs of the Games. We rely on the generous support and funds from sponsors, partners, vendors, donations, and the time and skills of 100’s of volunteers to put on the Games.
The registration fees are calculated based on factors like the total number of participants, and the overall total cost of the Games from start to finish. The all-inclusive flat rate fee each participant pays is then subsidized significantly by the CTA (at least 50% per participant). As such, the fees cannot be discounted further. This includes people who may want to stay elsewhere in Sherbrooke, attend just a portion of the games or who live locally.
When does registration close?
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Registration closes May 18th, 2026
Will there be Early Bird pricing?
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Yes! Please refer to our pricing page for information about prices.
PRICE INCLUDES:
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Accommodation on the Bishop's University campus, based on double occupancy
Meals: 16 meals
Sunday, July 5: BBQ
Monday, July 6: 3 meals
Tuesday, July 7: breakfast and lunch
Wednesday, July 8: 3 meals
Thursday, July 9: 3 meals
Friday, July 10: 3 meals
Saturday, July 11: breakfast
Opening Ceremony, Gala, Registration for sports competitions, Family Day Picnic and Donor Walk
What is the Cancellation Policy?
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Please refer to our pricing page for information about cancellation. Please note that it is essential that you take out your own personal travel insurance to cover cancellation for medical or other reasons.
What are the medical requirements?
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Medical forms must be completed within 6 weeks of the Games and submitted no later than May 22, 2026, to the Games Medical Director at: forms@cta-acg.ca or via the Zeffy form. Both the link to the Zeffy form and the PDF and will be sent to you by email in the spring.
Before competing/participating in the Games it is expected that your general health and fitness are stable, and your healthcare provider supports your participation. You are responsible for discussing your plan to participate in the Games and any possible adverse effects with your healthcare provider prior to participating.
You are responsible for training to participate in the Games, and it is recommended that you do so with a sporting advisor/couch and in keeping with an advice provided by your healthcare provider. You should adapt your training program to match your chosen sports.
Athletes are required to discuss their plans to participate in the Games and any possible adverse effects of participation with the care provider best placed to assess the athlete’s fitness to participate taking into consideration their transplant hitory (ex. family physician or post-transplant physician if applicable) and current health status.
In addition, recipient athletes must have been transplanted for at least 1 year, be experiencing stable graft function, and need to have trained for the events they have entered.
What sports are available?
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Please refer to our Sports Page for additional information.
What are the athlete age categories?
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Athletes will compete by gender in the following age groups:
Single events: 18-29, 30-39, 40-49, 50-59, 60-69, 70-79 and 80 and over.
Note: Athletes 80 and over are permitted to compete in the 70-79 age group but must continue in that age category for any other event in that sport.
Doubles events: under 30, 30-49 and 50 and over (where applicable).
Junior: 5 and under, 6-8, 9-11
Youth: 12-14 and 15-17
Living Donor/Supporter/Deceased Donor Family Division: There will be two age groups in this category, which will be determined at the close of registration.
Age on the date of the Opening Ceremonies will apply.
Athletes may register for up to a maximum of 5 individual events. Events such as badminton, tennis, and pickleball that include singles, doubles and mixed doubles are considered individual events. (For example, if an athlete registers for badminton singles, doubles and mixed doubles, these count as three individual events.) Relays and Triathlon are not considered individual events and athletes may enter as many relays as the schedule permits. To participate in the new “Transplant Triathlon” event, an athlete must register in (and count) all three individual events (the age/gender-appropriate swim, cycle and run). The athletes with the 3 best overall aggregate scores in each age/gender category will receive a medal in Triathlon. Triathlon participants can then register in a maximum of two other individual events and as many relays as their schedule allows.
A competitor may enter only one age division in an event.
A competitor age 12 -14 years may elect to compete in the Youth 15-17 years group but must stay in that age category for all events in that sport.
Youth 16 or 17 years of age are permitted to compete in adult age events, but must stay in that age category for all events in that sport.
A competitor in the adult age group starting at 30 years or older may elect to compete in a younger adult division provided it is indicated on the original application and must stay in that category for all events in that sport.
How do I find a partner for a partnered sport?
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Once registration closes and we have a better idea of numbers, you will be contacted about selecting partners, if applicable
Accommodations
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View the accommodations here: https://www.ubishops.ca/living-on-campus/residence-halls/
Semi-private style accommodations allow two or four guests to share a joint bathroom (toilet and shower).
Semi-private style residences include common areas such as the living room with satellite television, a community kitchen and all rooms are equipped an air exchanger.
The room rate includes bed linens and towels, parking, WiFi, laundry room and access to our training center within the Sports Facility.
You may indicate who you wish to share a room with during the registration process.
Meals
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The main cafeteria, Dewhurst Dining Hall, serves the three main meals in a buffet style. Dewhurst is located at the heart of the campus and is easily accessible from the residences. Meals are served in a hot and cold buffet style, and you can eat as much as you want, as often as you want.
Booking Extra Nights of Accommodations
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Information on this will be provided at a later date.
Transportation
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By Plane: Montréal-Trudeau Airport (https://www.admtl.com/)
Shuttle service to Sherbrooke: https://aeronavette.ca/
Please note that this must be booked by you, as it is not provided this year.
By Car: from Montréal: 1 hour 45 minutes
Transportation to Competition Venue
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We encourage carpooling for those without access to a vehicle, and a few volunteer drivers with courtesy cars will be available.
Public transit is available through the Sherbrooke Transit Corporation (STS) https://www.sts.qc.ca
Practice Schedule for Various Sports
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Each participant is responsible for contacting the various competition venues to reserve practice time the day before the competition for sports such as golf, tennis, pickleball, badminton, pétanque, swimming, etc.