Image Gallery: It's League Tourney Time For North Central Connecticut Unified Sports Programs

VERNON, CT — It was two gyms, three courts, seven teams and a whole lot of fun Thursday at the annual Unified Sports north central Connecticut basketball tournament.

Canton, South Windsor, Ellington, East Windsor, Windsor Locks and Granby high schools joined host Rockville High Schools for the event.

The Unified Sports program is thriving in the region. Part of the Special Olympics, the program is a fully inclusive initiative that combines approximately equal numbers of individuals with intellectual disabilities (called "athletes") and those without (called "Unified partners") on sports teams for training and competition.

The core principle is that training and playing together is a quick path to friendship, understanding, and social inclusion.

Here's a look at Thursday's tournament:

(Chris Dehnel/Patch)