Participants aged between 11 and 18 from 16 schools will travel from as far afield as Devon and Blackpool for four days of opportunities to compete and hone their skills across a variety of different disciplines.

This will consist of events on the Paralympic programme, including athletics, hand-cycling, archery and boccia as well as more innovative concepts such as powerchair football and table cricket.

The 150 participants will take inspiration from former competitors including the 11-time Paralympic champion Baroness Tanni Grey-Thompson, wheelchair basketball star cum television personality Ade Adepitan and the four time London 2012 gold medallist David Weir.

The Games is the latest in a series of events - including the National Paralympic Day earlier in September - where disabled youngsters have had opportunities to participate in new sports. 

The National Paralympic Day in London's Olympic Park was an earlier example of opportunities for disabled youngsters to try out sports, including wheelchair basketball




"Disability sport provides tremendous health and social benefits at all levels," said Martin McElhatton, chief executive of event organisers, WheelPower.

"The National Junior Games gives participants with the confidence and the opportunities to live healthy active lifestyle.

"It has been an exciting 12 months for disability sport, and WheelPower has seen how London 2012 has inspired an increase of 60 per cent in the number of disabled children wanting to attend our events."

The Games will also be supported by Thomas Cook's Children's charity who described themselves as "incredibly proud to support the WheelPower Junior Games for a second year running".

"This will help ensure that young disabled people, inspired by the success of London 2012, have the opportunity to take part on a sporting stage in the same way as their idols," said Joanna Wild, chair of the charity. 

The Games are due begin on Monday (September 23) and continue for four days until Thursday (September 26).