The Rochester area served as host to the New York State Chapter of Special Olympics’ 2018 Winter Games for the last weekend of February. More than 1,000 athletes from around New York State came and competed in a variety of events.

"I think they really feel this huge sense of accomplishment,” said Jennifer Frame, the Director of Development for New York State’s Special Olympics in the capital region. “As anybody would. Especially when they get that medal around their neck, and they know that they have trained hard for eight weeks. In the process, they made themselves proud; they made their family proud and their team proud."

They're not without support either. Plenty of family, friends, volunteers and the community came out to cheer on the athletes. Some even made handmade signs to show their support.  

"I think it's important to be inclusive to all members of our community,” said Rochester native Niki Pizzutelli. “Not just to the Olympic athletes that we see on TV every day. I think we need to recognize that there are all different types of abilities out there, there's a diversity of abilities, and so we're here to represent that today."

The Winter Games events included Figure Skating at the Genesee Valley Park Ice Rink, floor hockey at Rochester's Riverside Convention Center, snowshoeing and alpine skiing in Swain, and Cross Country Skiing at Bristol Mountain.