World Dwarf Games get underway in Guelph Friday

There are 400 athletes from 22 countriesin Guelphfor the 2017 World Dwarf Games, which kick off Friday night.

This is the seventh year for the event and organizers say it will bethe largest participation since its first event in 1993 in Chicago.

The event which is held every four years and supported by the International Dwarf Athletic Federation, will see participants compete in a number of events including soccer, basketball, swimming, track and field and powerlifting.

'Believe me, they are competitive'

Teresa Camilleri, an organizer and previous competitor in the marksmanship event, described watching the various sports as amazing and pretty cool.

"This is an amazing opportunity for short-statured people to showcase that just because their legs and arms are shorter it doesn't mean they can't play competitive sports," Camillerisaid.

"And believe me, they are competitive. It's quite amazing to see a bunch of seven and eight year olds running around a soccer ball that almost comes up to their knees."

Listen to the interview with Teresa Camillerihere:

Competitive categories

The participants are split into various categories based on their age and classification of dwarfism which includes measuring the standing and sitting height and arm span.

Organizers say the athletes will compete as part of a team from a specific country, or they'll be placed on a mixed-country team based on the physical stature of each person.

• Junior A Division ages 7 to 11.
• Junior B Division is 12 to 15.
• Open starts at over age 15.
• Master, which is 35 and over.

There are more than 200 different kinds of dwarfism.

Welcoming event

Since finding out in 2015 that Guelph would host the games, organizer Heather Anderson has been busy finding venues, hotels and making sure the athletes from international locations have the proper documentation to enter the country.

"It's an event that welcomes every athlete of every age and every ability," said Anderson.

"We have people thathave never tried a sport competing, toall the way up to paralympianswho are also coming to take part in the events."

Previous Dwarf Games were held in the United States, England, Ireland and France. The last Canadian games were held in 2001 in Toronto.

The games run until Aug. 12.