Ballarat is set to play host to a new soccer carnival which will give children with intellectual disabilities an opportunity to play at Morshead Park.
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The 'Aim For The Top' carnival is a 12-team, seven-a-side soccer competition featuring teams from all over Western Victoria. There will be two divisions of competition, gold and green, featuring two 10 minute halves in the games.
The idea for the event came from a combined effort from Charlie Payton and Ballarat Specialist School teacher Craige Emonson.
Emonson said participation is the most important aspect of the carnival.
"It's all based on inclusion and participation," he said.
"All the schools getting involved are special schools and part of their special attributes is their inclusion and participation. Charlie Payton and myself based this event on providing the opportunity for kids to have fun and interact together on the pitch."
Payton added how excited he was to see children with intellectual dissabilities get the opportunity to play on a world-class soccer pitch such as Morshead Park.
"It's the ultimate, we have players falling over backwards to play at Morshead Park," he laughed.
"A-League teams and the Matildas have played there so for these kids it's really something special."
The carnival, which will run from 11am - 1pm on Friday will feature inflatable activities provided by Western United.
A spokesperson from the club the event would "bring a lot of schools together which is a great thing (Western United) will always look to support."
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