Whether it's purely social or competitive, a group of disabled Bay of Plenty athletes are out to show they can reach the same lofty sporting heights as their able-bodied counterparts at the 2015 Halberg Junior Disability Games.

Starting today, 104 athletes aged between eight and 21 will converge on Cambridge's St Peter's School for the annual sporting tournament.

Te Puke's Scott MacDonald hopes to represent New Zealand in handcycling at the Paralympics. Photo: Supplied.

Launched in 1992 by CCS Disability Action, the games now run by the Halberg Disability Sport Foundation showcase sports including archery, athletics, blind cricket and waka ama.

The aim is to provide high-quality sporting opportunities for young disabled people - and a stepping stone towards the Paralympic Games.

Among the 100-plus national field of physically and visually impaired young people are six athletes waving the Bay of Plenty flag across a range of sports.

The Bay squad comprises of Tauranga's Atawhai Kapa and Toby Lipinski, Te Puke's Scott MacDonald, Katikati's Zach Coley and Rotorua duo Whakapau Tumai and Abbie Moyce.

BayTrust Coachforce Parafed development officer Zane Jensen says for the athletes to test themselves on the national stage is a great concept.

'We have got a good range of kids participating in a wide range of sports who are keen to see where they are at,” says Zane.

'For some athletes the goal is serious competition, with dreams of one day representing New Zealand at the Paralympic Games. For others, the aim is to participate in sporting opportunities they don't have the chance to pursue alone.

'Take 13-year-old Abbie for example. She'll do her best in athletics, boccia, swimming, cycling and rowing/waka ama, she wants to win and do it all with a smile on her face.”

Meanwhile, Te Puke's MacDonald is preparing to give it his all in handcycling, wheelchair sprints and rowing with an eye on making it to the Paralympics in handcycling.

'All the kids are looking forward to it and it'll be good to get that whole team unity and representing the Bay of Plenty going among the kids,” says Zane.

Bay of Plenty's Halberg Junior Disability Games squad:

Atawhai Kapa, 11: shot put, archery, equestrian, and waka ama.

Toby Lipinski, 12: power chair football, trike, blind cricket and ambulant football.

Scott MacDonald, 21: handcycling, wheelchair sprints and rowing.

Zach Coley, 12: goal ball and archery.

Whakapau Tumai, 11: paracycling, athletics, badminton, rowing/waka ama.

Abbie Moyce, 13: athletics, boccia, swimming, cycling, and rowing/waka ama.