Junior Disability Games torch lit

Te Kopa Kopa and Nicki Turner lights the flame to officially open the Halberg Junior Disability Games in Cambridge. PICTURE/SUPPLIED

The Halberg Junior Disability Games, a national sports competition for physically disabled and visually impaired young people, officially opened with a ceremony at the Avantidrome in Cambridge on Friday night.

Nearly 120 athletes aged eight to 21 competing in nine regional teams descended on St Peter's in Cambridge for three days of sports competition and camaraderie at the event hosted by the Halberg Disability Sport Foundation.

A sports festival-style opening ceremony at the Avantidrome this evening welcomed athletes, volunteers and supporters to the Games.

Para-Cycling world champion, Emma Foy, shared an inspirational speech and the friendly competition was opened by a march of the teams who wore their regional colours around the velodrome.

Team Northland athlete Te Kopa Kopa from Kaikohe took the Athlete Oath on behalf of all competitors and lit the official flame to declare the event open.

The games gives athletes the opportunity to compete in regional teams across 19 sports including athletics, swimming, triathlon, powerchair football, goalball, badminton and rowing. The event also hosts the National Junior Boccia Championship and Under 21 Basketball Championships.

The Halberg Junior Disability Games is unique to New Zealand and gives athletes the opportunity compete at a national level, try new sports, meet other people from around the country and provides a pathway to pursue further sporting goals.

Paralympics New Zealand will have its team of talent identification managers on hand to seek out the stars of the future.