Sports equipment provider Youth Sport Direct has launched an introductory multi-sport wheelchair designed to encourage young disabled people to take part in physical activity.

The wheelchair – manufactured by Roma Sport – is manufactured in a series of seat widths which allow young people the opportunity to take part in sports such as basketball and tennis regardless of their size.

Lightweight and agile, the chair lets users play sport without too much effort pushing a heavy frame. They also come in a range of colours.

The launch of the chair marks a focus from Youth Sports Direct and partner the Youth Sports Trust to provide every young person – regardless of ability or disability – the same opportunities to play PE and school sport.

“Making sure we’re doing everything we can to provide young people of all abilities and backgrounds with fantastic PE and a school sport experience from the youngest possible age is so important,” said chair of the Youth Sports Trust, Sue Campbell.

“The new multi-sport wheelchair is a terrific way to help schools offer engaging and fun activities in their PE lessons to everyone.”

Paralympic athlete and broadcaster Ade Adepitan is acting as an ambassador for the wheelchair. He said the benefits of the chairs will be seen in “20-30 years time when people don’t think twice about seeing someone with a disability in sport”.

“It is not disability sport. It is just sport,” he added. “This multi-sport chair is going to help the integration of young disabled people and make them feel like an integral part of society from a young age.”