Set to be held in Manchester's SportCity on May 19, the event will be attended by every one of the National Governing Bodies for Paralympic sports, with the exception of wheelchair curling.

"We have over 20 Summer and Winter Paralympic sports coming to Sports Fest so that there are plenty of opportunities for disabled people to have a go at a variety of different activities," said Penny Briscoe, director for sport at the British Paralympic Association (BPA).

"We know from experience that many people turn up with just one or two sports in mind but often leave Sports Fest with lots of ideas about things they want to try at their local clubs.

"Having so many sports in one place means that there are even more chances for people to be inspired and to take up something that they might never have considered before."

Britain's most decorated female Paralympian, Dame Sarah Storey, will be joined by record-setting skier Kelly Gallagher as the pair meet with supporters from across the country for autographs, photographs and the chance to show off their medals.

Gallagher enshrined her name in Paralympic history at Sochi 2014 as she became the first Briton to win gold, finishing first in the visually impaired super-G competition.

Kelly Gallagher will be in attendance at the Manchester Sports Fest following her historic gold medal at the 2014 Sochi Winter Paralympic Games ©Getty Images



For the first time ever at a Sports Fest, there will also be the opportunity for disabled people who have been inspired by Sochi 2014 to try out Alpine skiing at the nearby Chill Factore.

"I'm looking forward to being part of Sports Fest," Gallagher said.

"I have previously seen Sports Fest events take place but with training for Sochi I've not been able to get involved.

"Skiing and sport are a huge part of my life.

"The idea that I could help to inspire and encourage more disabled people to consider sport as an option is brilliant.

"Sochi was truly a great opportunity for us to showcase how fantastic our sport is, and so I'm looking forward to the chance to help more people try out skiing and get involved in all disability sports at Sports Fest."

Sports Fest in Manchester will be the fourth of the London 2012-inspired come-and-try events hosted by the BPA and supported by National Governing Bodies.

So far, nearly 2,000 attendees have come through the doors of events held across the country since London 2012.

The inaugural Sports Fest was held at Surrey Sports Park in December 2012.

This was followed by events held at the EIS Sheffield in April 2013 and the University of Worcester Arena last November.

Sports Fest promises people the chance to "meet the medallists, try the sports, get inspired" and they can participate in a number of activities, including come-and-try sessions for Paralympic summer and winter sports as well as meet the medallists sessions, where they can put their questions to athletes, have their photos taken and get autographs.

The 24 sports confirmed at the event are: Alpine skiing, boccia, football – both five and seven aside – canoeing, rowing, sitting volleyball, table tennis, wheelchair rugby, archery, cycling, goalball, triathlon, sailing, sledge hockey, wheelchair basketball, wheelchair tennis, athletics, equestrian, judo, powerlifting, shooting, swimming and wheelchair fencing.

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