The Special Olympics New York held its State Fall Games this weekend. The nonprofit offers athletes with intellectual disabilities a training ground where they can refine those skills and grow. Athletes from nine regions across the state competed in Saturday's games.

Athletes of all abilities have the opportunity to test their skills, measure their progress and challenge themselves at the Special Olympics New York State Fall Games in Glens Falls. Athletes are assigned into divisions within each sport based on ability, prior competition performance, age and gender. Ideally, each division at a contest has three to eight competitors or teams.

Training and preparing for the games takes a minimum of eight weeks for athletes from around the state. Special Olympics New York competitions are fundamentally different from other competitions because athletes of all ability levels are encouraged to compete. Competitions are structured so that athletes compete with others of similar ability.

"Every Wednesday we throw in Queens and we do that for quite some time. We play every Wednesday night from 5-7, and that's it," New York State Special Olympics Athlete of the Year Kathleen Maggi said.

There are seven sports at the fall games. They provide athletes with a social outlet to gather with family and friends, which they look forward to.

"I'm looking forward to everybody having fun at the Special Olympics and I'm proud of my team,” athlete Luis Lopez, representing Staten Island, said. “We love the sport and the Special Olympics."

As athletes develop skills, they demonstrate what individuals with intellectual disabilities are capable of throughout their lives. At the completion of the games, athletes will return home and begin training for the Winter State Games in Syracuse later this year.