Disabled kids get sporting chance

Schools from County Durham and Darlington have been invited to send pupils to the first Inclusive Sports Festival, being held at one of the region's newest athletics venues.

A team from the county's physical education and sport development unit is already going into schools to train children for the event, which takes place at Shildon Stadium, on July 17.

Most of the challenges are being devised to suit the skills and needs of the young competitors.

Many children taking part will come from special schools and some will be profoundly handicapped, with no experience of any sort of sporting contest.

Tailor-made events, including a wheelchair slalom, egg and balloon race, sitting throw and standing long jump will test the balance and co-ordination of the young competitors.

Schools have been asked to send teams of five for a relay race over legs of 50 metres.

The festival is organised by a partnership of Sedgefield Borough's Leisure Services, the county development unit, the English Federation of Disability Sport and UK Athletics.

A borough council spokesman said: "There are already special schools events, and lots of competitions for non-disabled youngsters, but none of these allow full integration for children with higher support needs.

"It is aimed at those children who do not normally have the opportunity to represent their school in sports competitions."

Geoff Sheldon, Durham's physical education and sport development officer, said: "We are targeting children that won't have had a chance to take part in competitions before.

"Some of the most severely affected children have profound and multiple learning difficulties, and very little physical movement at all.

"It is not easy to devise competitions which allow them all to take part, but it is worth it to see the pleasure on some of the faces of the children at taking part in activities like this for the first time.