DISABLED athletes took part in the annual Tees Regatta at the weekend for the first time.

Adaptive rowing will be a new Paralympic sport in the Beijing Games in 2008.

Gary Doig, North-East community involvement executive with npower, sponsors of the disabled section of the the regatta, said: "Our npower Active programme, run in partnership with the English Federation of Disability Sports (EFDS) Organisations, aims to help create wider opportunities for people with disabilities to get involved in a whole range of sports, allowing them to explore and develop their athletic abilities through events such as this."

The regatta, at Stockton, attracted more that 250 crews at all levels of the sport from across Britain, and three of the four world champions who won gold at the World Rowing Championships in Banyoles, Spain, last year.

Alan Crowther, Naomi Riches and Katie-George Dunlevy were joined by Alistair McKean, who has been selected to help them defend their title at the World Rowing Championships in Gifu, Japan, later this year.

Ross McConnell, of the North-East branch of the EFDS, said: "We help people with disabilities to develop their talents, achieve their sporting goals and reach their full potential.

"It is great to see people new to rowing being given the opportunity to take part in the same event as world champions."