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Images: Special Olympics World Games

Competition is under way at the Special Olympics World Games in Los Angeles.

First lady Michelle Obama welcomed thousands of athletes with intellectual disabilities to the games on Saturday during a festive opening ceremony filled with cheers, songs and praise for their courage and determination. According their website, some 6,500 athletes from 165 countries will compete in the games, which run through Aug. 2.

The games were the brainchild of President John Kennedy's sister Eunice Kennedy Shriver, who held informal backyard competitions at her home before deciding to take the competition international in 1968. She said she believed everybody should have a chance to feel special.

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United States' Sheryl Fairbanks gets a hug after the team defeated Panama to win the team gold medal in bocce team play during the 2015 Special Olympics World Games, Monday, July 27, 2015, in Los Angeles. (David Crane/Los Angeles Daily News via AP)
United States' Kenneth Skinner makes a shot during Bocce team play during the 2015 Special Olympics World Games, Monday, July 27, 2015, in Los Angeles. (David Crane/Los Angeles Daily News via AP)
Germany's Manuel Oberst, left, shoots past Kenya's Charles Okoth Ayugi during the second half of a Special Olympics handball competition in Los Angeles, Monday, July 27, 2015. (AP Photo/Chris Carlson)
Germany's Kai Soeren Polefka, left, battles Kenya's Odongo Erick Otieno for the ball during the first half of a Special Olympics handball competition in Los Angeles, Monday, July 27, 2015. (AP Photo/Chris Carlson)
Germany's Daniel Emmer celebrates after scoring against Kenya in the second half of a Special Olympics handball competition in Los Angeles, Monday, July 27, 2015. (AP Photo/Chris Carlson)
Germany's Cedrick Stratmann celebrates after their 21-15 win against Kenya during the Special Olympics handball competition in Los Angeles, Monday, July 27, 2015. (AP Photo/Chris Carlson)
The Costa Rican flag waves in the breeze as their team takes the sand during 2015 Special Olympics World Games beach volleyball matchup at Alamitos Beach, Monday, July 27, 2015, Long Beach, Calif. (Steve McCrank/The Daily Breeze via AP)
Team Costa Rica makes a diving play during 2015 Special Olympics World Games beach volleyball matchup at Alamitos Beach, Monday, July 27, 2015, Long Beach, Calif. (Steve McCrank/The Daily Breeze via AP)
Kenya's Joseph Njenga Njunie makes a diving save on the ball during 2015 Special Olympics World Games beach volleyball matchup at Alamitos Beach, Monday, July 27, 2015, Long Beach, Calif. (Steve McCrank/The Daily Breeze via AP)
The Kenyan team warms up for their game against Finland during 2015 Special Olympics World Games beach volleyball matchup at Alamitos Beach, Monday, July 27, 2015, Long Beach, Calif. (Steve McCrank/The Daily Breeze via AP)
People watch during 2015 Special Olympics World Games beach volleyball matchups at Alamitos Beach, Monday, July 27, 2015, Long Beach, Calif. (Steve McCrank/The Daily Breeze via AP)
Members of the German handball team wave to the crowd after their 21-15 win against Kenya during the 2015 Special Olympics handball competition in Los Angeles, Monday, July 27, 2015. (AP Photo/Chris Carlson)
Members of the German handball team celebrate after their 21-15 win against Kenya during the 2015 Special Olympics handball competition in Los Angeles, Monday, July 27, 2015. (AP Photo/Chris Carlson)
First lady Michelle Obama declares the 2015 Special Olympics World Games officially open during the opening ceremony at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, Saturday, July 25, 2015, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
Jimmy Kimmel speaks at the Opening Ceremony of the 2015 Special Olympics World Games at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on Saturday, July 25, 2015, in Los Angeles. (Photo by Rich Fury/Invision/AP)
Avril Lavigne performs at the Opening Ceremony of the 2015 Special Olympics World Games at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on Saturday, July 25, 2015, in Los Angeles. (Photo by Rich Fury/Invision/AP)
First lady Michelle Obama speaks at the Opening Ceremony of the 2015 Special Olympics World Games at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on Saturday, July 25, 2015, in Los Angeles. (Photo by Rich Fury/Invision/AP)
Athletes from Belgium enter the stadium during the opening ceremony of the 2015 Special Olympics World Games, Saturday, July 25, 2015, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
Athletes from Bosnia and Herzegovina cheer as they enter the stadium during the opening ceremony of the 2015 Special Olympics World Games, Saturday, July 25, 2015, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
14-year-old cheerleader Tiana DiMassa, of Garden Grove, Calif., leaves the stadium after her preshow performance at the opening ceremony of the Special Olympics World Games, Saturday, July 25, 2015, in Los Angeles. Some 6,500 athletes from 165 countries - the most to converge on Los Angeles since the 1984 Summer Olympics - have poured into town this week to hit tennis balls, kick soccer balls, swim laps, ride horses, lift weights, even run a triathlon. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
Cheerleaders enter the stadium for their preshow performance at the opening ceremony of the 2015 Special Olympics World Games, Saturday, July 25, 2015, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
First lady Michelle Obama speaks at the opening ceremony of the 2015 Special Olympics World Games, Saturday, July 25, 2015, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
Athlete Destiny Sanchez, center, carries the torch during the opening ceremony of the 2015 Special Olympics World Games, Saturday, July 25, 2015, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
Nigerian athletes sing and dance while waiting in the tunnel to enter the stadium during the opening ceremony of the 2015 Special Olympics World Games, Saturday, July 25, 2015, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
Athletes from Burkina Faso enter the stadium during the opening ceremony of the 2015 Special Olympics World Games, Saturday, July 25, 2015, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
A fireworks display closes out the Opening Ceremony of the 2015 Special Olympics World Games at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on Saturday, July 25, 2015, in Los Angeles. (Photo by Rich Fury/Invision/AP)
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