NORTH TEXAS (CBSDFW.COM) - Hundreds of athletes are in North Texas for a week of events made just for their size.

It is called the Dwarf Athletic Association's National Games. It is a big athletic event designed specifically for little people.

The five day event kicked off Friday and will run through July 4th.

It gives dwarf athletes a chance to show off their skills.

"It's great," said Christopher Cassella, an athlete from New York. "It makes us feel like everybody else. It's hard to explain how it makes us feel to play with our own kind."

For the past 26 years this annual event has brought together little people from all over the U-S. This year's competition is being held on the campus of UT Arlington

"We have over 200 athletes from all over including international athletes from Canada, Mexico, Australia, The Netherlands, Great Britain and even Russia," explained Amy Andrews with the Dwarf Association of America.

The attendees are as young as 4 years old --as the association makes it a family friendly event. Eight year old Levi is here with his parents from Atlanta GA.

"It's really competitive everybody, like, goes for their team its really fun," Levi said .

But this competition isn't kids play--for the adults, this is serious business. Most of the athletes, like Trevor Weststeyn, train year round.

"It's very competitive, its extreme, its tough."

And although the event is centered around sports, it also helps spread awareness about the various illnesses that cause dwarfism.

The gathering is truly a time for this group of unique people to bond. Friendships are made and sometimes, it's even where little people find the greatest gift of all- love.

"Every night there is a dance," Cassella said . "We all hang out. It's where a lot of little people meet their fiancee."