On a warm Wednesday evening at South Beach, roughly 15 bocce teams gathered not just to kick off their 16 week-season, but to celebrate community, inclusion and the spirit of teamwork. Forza Campioni — meaning “Strength of Champions” in Italian — is more than a bocce league; it’s a family for young adults with intellectual disabilities on Staten Island.

The league offers matchups for both “unified” teams —featuring two athletes with intellectual disabilities alongside two neurotypical adults —and “traditional” teams, made up entirely of four athletes with intellectual disabilities, creating an inclusive space for individuals of all abilities to come together and play.