Parallel London will be held on September 4, just three days before the Opening Ceremony of the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games, and will include multiple running and walking distance events, from 100 metres to 10 kilometres.

It is open to all ages and abilities and organisers have said they are encouraging entrants from people with a disability.

They hope around 10,000 people will take part.

As well as the races themselves, Parallel London will feature several “environments”, which will include a range of sessions on food and drink, fitness and healthy lifestyles, family and quiet spaces and culture, art and literature.

It has been claimed that the Parallel London event is the first of its kind worldwide.

“If prejudices can positively shift in the right direction and day to day barriers in life removed, there is little doubt that disabled people can be more independent, equal and enabled to positively engage in our society,” Parallel London founder Andrew Douglas said.

“My hope is that Parallel London will show that we are all stronger together.”

Parallel London hope the event can increase participation of disabled people in sport following the publishing of a survey in 2013, which revealed more than 80 per cent of respondents with a disability still experience prejudice when competing.

This comes despite the success of the London 2012 Paralympic Games, widely heralded as one of the best-ever editions of the quadrennial event.

“Parallel London is an exciting new event for the capital, which we want people of all ages and abilities to be a part of,” London Mayor Boris Johnson added.

“For Londoners with or without disabilities it's going to be a wonderful family-friendly day out, which I hope will help change attitudes as well as getting more of us to become more active.”

Parallel London are now inviting ballot entries for the event, which costs £20 ($29/€26) for adults, £15 ($22/€19) for youths between 14 and 16 years of age and £10 ($14/€13) for children aged between five and 13.

Infants, aged up to four, are free.

If prospective entrants are unsuccessful with their ballot entry, a range of charities will have places available in exchange for fundraising support.

Anyone who is keen on entering the ballot can do so by clicking here.