In pictures: Disabled sports festival

Last year's paralympics in Athens saw Wales win more medals per head of the population than any other country in the world.

On Wednesday, more then 180 disabled children gathered at the Welsh Insitute of Sport in Cardiff.

Paralympics and disabled sports stars were there to mark Disability Sport Cymru three year funding renewal.

Backed by the Sports Council for Wales and National Lottery cash, the body aims to promote disabled sports.

Their work is a joint initiative between the sports council, local authorities and organisations representing sports such as wheelchair tennis and badminton and sledge hockey.

Wednesday's sports festival was the fourth annual showcase of the activities available to encourage exercise and sporting talent in disabled youngsters.

Sarah Head was training for a competition in Ireland

Five-times Paralympian table tennis player Jim Munkley, 56, was one of the disabled adult sports people attending the event.

He said if there had been a similar system in place when he had his swimming dive accident which left him in a wheelchair aged 17, then his move into sport would have been that much quicker.

He said: "Part of my rehabilitation was sport, the physios insisted on it, but when I went home I did not move for a year.

"These youngsters now, they can have a go and hopefully they will see that sport can be a way forward."

Sara Head, 25, from Beddau, Pontypridd, was 16 when a viral illness left her in a wheelchair. She is now a member of the GB disabled table tennis team.

"When I was in school, there were opportunities for sport, but nothing like this. There were only a few sports, and I was in a mixed school."

Another disabled athlete lending his support to the event was Welsh Paralympian sailor, Stephen Thomas, a double amputee below the knee.

Other events planned by Disability Sport Cymru include the Welsh Boccia Nations at Sophia Gardens on 4 May, the first time the event has been held in Wales.