BOLTON'S first Festival of Disability Sport kicks off on Monday and promises to be crammed with first-class sportsmanship, top-class athletes and exciting competitions.

It's aim is to give people across the borough the chance to become actively involved in sport and has more than 60 activities on offer.

The pioneering event, the first of its kind in the area, runs until Sunday 22. The Festival is being applauded by athletes and their supporters and Karen Stephen talks to some of the people involved and asks them what they'll be doing and what the Festival means to them.

JOSIE Cichockyj is the County Disability Sports Officer. She's also a basketball player and played the sport for Britain at international level for 15 years.

Josie is extremely vocal in her delight for the Festival which, she explained, has received funding from the local authority and the National Lottery.

She said: "Bolton is really leading the way with this.

"It's the first year of the Festival and it's already attracted lots of attention.

"At a guess, I'd say there'll be around 1,000 athletes involved in the whole event -- an excellent turnout."

Josie says she particularly hopes the Festival will encourage young athletes from local schools to take up sport.

She said: "It will give them an early start and instead of thinking sport is something that eludes them, they'll be able to take an active part and believe in themselves.

"Most importantly, they'll discover how enjoyable it is.

"The Festival is for all athletes with physical, learning and sensory disabilities.

"However, I prefer not to mention the word disability -- I'd much rather concentrate on the abilities of these athletes, just as I focus on mine when I play.

"What many people don't realise is how hard these athletes train -- just like any others, they put in seven days a week, three or four hours a day."

While Josie is obviously extremely enthusiastic about the Festival, she won't be here to enjoy it.

She said: "I'll be watching the Paralympics in Sydney. It's an opportunity I just can't miss.

"But I will be thinking about the athletes back in Bolton!"

JIMMY Heggie, aged 50, plays basketball for the Bolton Bulls -- he's been playing the sport for 20 years, since an accident left him a paraplegic and he's no stranger to the people of Bolton.

He'll be part of a basketball tournament taking place at Kearsley Leisure Centre.

Jimmy said: "The Bulls are playing a match against the Manchester Mavericks on the Thursday night of the Festival and we're viewing it as an opportunity to promote and recruit for our sport."

Jimmy, who's a qualified wheelchair basketball coach, says: "I see this Festival as the perfect way of encouraging youngsters to take up basketball -- or any sport for that matter.

"But, as a team, we are seeking new recruits -- especially from the age of 11 upwards.

"During the Festival, we are holding an afternoon's basketball coaching session for young people at St Joseph's school in Horwich."

He said: "I hope the Festival will become an important event for everyone interested in sport."

David Cummings who has learning and physical disabilities, is a keen swimmer.

A member of the Jubilee Club wich meets regularly at the Jubilee Pool on Darley Street, David, aged 32, is enthusiastic about all sports and used to be an avid horserider.

David, from Harwood, is wheelchair-bound and registered blind, but visits the pool as often as he can.

Mary, his mum, said: "David has no independent mobility so he needs to have someone who can hoist him in and out of the pool.

"This became a problem when he went horseriding -- he became too big to be lifted on the horse so he had to give it up."

David has been involved in sport since he was a youngster yet, Mary says, it's only in the past few years many sports centres and gyms have become even vaguely wheelchair friendly.

Mary said: "And even then, there's not that many."

David and his mum hope the Festival will only encourage disabled people to take up a sport and raise awareness of the needs of disabled sportsmen and women.

Mary said: "We need more volunteers -- people who can help with transport and the activities."

David also intends to have a go at trampolining at the Festival.

David said: "The week means I'll get out of the house and have the chance to try sports I don't usually do, like trampolining. But most of all it will be fun."

SHAUN Froes, aged 15, attends Birtenshaw School in Bromley Cross and enjoys playing the game of Boccia -- a type of boules.

Joanne Gadd is an occupational therapist at the school and said: "Shaun really loves the game and it's good to see him enjoying himself."

Shaun said he's looking forward to the Festival and plans to take part in the bowling tournament at Middlebrook and also the treasure hunt at Moses Gate Country Park.

When he's at school he says he particularly enjoys going swimming and trampolining.

Shaun also enjoys watching football and tennis.

FURTHER details on Bolton's Disability Sports Festival and general information about sporting activities and opportunities for disabled people within the borough, contact Sue Woodham, Sports Development Officer on 01204 334025.