The team, of 22 athletes who have received organ transplants and four who are undergoing dialysis, arrive in Hungary tonight but have already been hit by an injury crisis. "Two of our athletes are carrying injuries this weekend but we hope that they will get the all-clear to compete from their doctor, " said team manager, Colin White. One of them, James Nolan, is a track athlete competing in the 200, 400 and 800-metre events.

Nolan said: "I have a problem with fluid on my knee so I just have to be positive and please God I will be able to compete next week. I believe that the most important thing about these games is that it gives transplant recipients the chance to thank the donors' families who make the very difficult decisions that have helped our lives."

Clare woman Jenny Tuohy (24) is also injured but she will compete in the shot putt and ten-bin bowling.

This week's event will offer five athletes the chance to compete in the games for the first time. Deirdre Faul from Dalkey, a liver transplant recipient, will compete in swimming and ten-pin bowling.

Edward Crowe from Carrick-On-Suir, who is on home dialysis, will compete in badminton, bowling and a number of track events while another newcomer, Harry Ward from Baldoyle, will compete in badminton.

Retired school teacher and liver transplant recipient Catherine Murphy will also compete for Ireland in badminton, bowling and the 3km-walk event while Eamon Cass, a lecturer in Carlow IT, will compete in tennis.