Youth games exclusion 'unlawful'

12.00.00am UTC (GMT +0000) Sun 10th Feb 2008

Children with learning disabilities will no longer be left out of the UK schools' equivalent of the Olympics after a threat of legal action. The Equality and Human Rights Commission has told the organisers of the UK School Games that the exclusion was discriminatory and unlawful.

This is part of a drive to overturn a Paralympics rule barring athletes who have learning disabilities. The games have had special events only for physically disabled youngsters. The rule was brought in after cheating by the Spanish learning disability basketball team which was infiltrated by adults who were not disabled.

Established in 2006, the UK School Games are a sort of Olympics for under-16s which cultivate youngsters hoping to compete in the adult Olympics and Paralympics in London in 2012. Events in athletics, swimming and table tennis are laid on specifically for children with physical disabilities but until now there has been nothing arranged specially for those with learning disabilities.

Now the Youth Sports Trust has agreed to lay on special events for children with learning disabilities. This followed an intervention by the Equality and Rights Commission, which said the rule amounted to unlawful discrimination.

Baroness Jane Campbell, from the commission, said: "This ban was unfair and unlawful so I am delighted that the Youth Sports Trust have realised that the full inclusion of all children, including those with learning disabilities, is good for sport. This move will open the door for talented children to compete as equals in the UK School Games."