A LANDMARK occasion was heralded in Lowestoft yesterday (Thursday) as a new Disability Sports Forum was launched.The Active Waveney Sports Partnership marked 1,000 days to the Paralympics in London with a special day of activity that coincided with the International Day of Persons with Disabilities.

A LANDMARK occasion was heralded in Lowestoft yesterday (Thursday) as a new Disability Sports Forum was launched.

The Active Waveney Sports Partnership marked 1,000 days to the Paralympics in London with a special day of activity that coincided with the International Day of Persons with Disabilities.

The new forum has been unveiled to promote disability sporting opportunities in the district, and the special event was kicked off with a series of demonstration sports at the Water Lane Leisure Centre, prior to "key people" all coming together for the inaugural meeting.

Lowestoft Town's first team coach and former Norwich City skipper Craig Fleming officially launched the Active Waveney Disability Sports Forum and said: "My sport and my passion is football, but I think you will all agree that any sport should be available to people of any age and any ability. Through partnership working, the aim of this Forum is to develop and sustain disability sport within the local community and I wish it every success."

The Forum, a sub group of the full Active Waveney Sports Partnership, will be the key driver for disability sport in Waveney and chairman of the AWSP, John Pawsey, said: "Delighted by the recent decision from the International Paralympic Committee (IPA) to re-include athletes with a learning disability in the Paralympic Games, it is an exciting time to focus on those performers with disabilities.

"We have many high level performers with disabilities within our local community who have the potential to be selected for the 2012 Paralympic Games, and as chair I am pleased to be supporting the development of disability sports through this Forum and through partnership working, to see greater representation within Waveney."

The Journal revealed last week how the Jackie Milton's six pupils from the Ashley School are part of the Mencap England squad and could potentially represent their country in the 2012 Paralympic Games, and yesterday they displayed their skills to the watching crowds along with judo exponents, footballers and table tennis players.

With all interested parties encouraged to offer their support going forward for this new forum, for more details contact activewaveney@waveney.gov.uk

For more on this event, including pictures, and Waveney's aspirations for the London 2012 Games be sure to buy next week's Journal.