GIVING youngsters with disabilities a chance they've rarely had before in life, and giving them the confidence to take any interest further.

That's the main message event organiser Sharon Hall was keen to impart as she talked about the inaugural Hampshire Youth Parallel Games.

The Games saw around 250 youngsters with learning and physical disabilities competing in football skills, football, basketball and athletics.

Hall, pictured, was organising her third Hampshire Games in all, and she was initially going to quit her role after doing two.

But she was one of the brains behind the setting up of the Parallel Games and confessed: "I really want this to work."

Before, youngsters belonging to special schools had found it difficult to attend the mainstream Hampshire Games due to the fact it was held on a Saturday.

It is believed the Parallel Games were the first of their kind to take place anywhere in England.

"The Parallel Games is something new and it will take time to get established; people already know about the main Hampshire Games, it's something they expect every year," she explained.

"We've had a limited response before because the schools said they couldn't really provide much support or transport at weekends.

"They said if we held a Parallel Games on a weekday they'd be able to support it. So that's what we've done and that's what the schools have done.

"You'll have to pick me off the ceiling after all this is over - but I do get such a big buzz from something like this.

"The youngsters wouldn't normally have a chance to compete against others like this, if at all.

"Some of the schools might hold their own inter-school event but rarely would they compete against others.

"We'll be giving out information to all the competing schools and then gauging the interest.

"Some of the youngsters with moderate learning difficulties could join mainstream sports clubs - this is all about giving them the confidence to do so."

Momentous event - Hull

PETER Hull, Hampshire's county development officer for disability sport, described the Parallel Games as "a momentous event."

"The Games will play a large part in shaping disability sport in Hampshire," he said.

"This event will increase the profile of disability sport and provide a positive experience for all the volunteers and coaches who will be supporting the day."

Hull, a Paralympian himself, added: "The long term result will be that any athlete with either a physical, sensory or learning impairment wanting to participate in sport shouldn't have to struggle."

Hull voted the Parallel Games "a huge success" and said he would be contacting all competing schools in due course to discuss how next year could be bigger and better.