It's 11:30 a.m. on Saturday morning, and Christmas carols ring through the crisp air as eight athletes run in place on the second floor of Dedicated Fitness on Delaware Avenue in Palmerton.

They're warming up for a powerlifting competition, and Ryan Lee, giving a punching bag the beating of its life, has his game face on.Lee, 25, of Jim Thorpe, in September was named Pennsylvania Special Olympics Male Athlete of the Year.A son of Nora and Robert Lee, Ryan is an all-around athlete."Ryan's a great kid. He participates in every sport that's offered," Robert Lee says. "He loves sports, he loves the Special Olympics. He loves the camaraderie, he loves to be with his friends."Lee was a member of the Carbon County Special Olympics team that, for the first time last year, qualified for the national competition held in Princeton, New Jersey. He ran in the track competition.Special Olympics provides an array of benefits for the athletes."The year-round athletic events for these guys get them out and moving around. Just being part of something is important, and the inclusion and gaining the respect of the public. They're people too, and they can do what others do, but they need the opportunity to show us what they can do," said competition coordinator Dave Rodrigues.Rodrigues and his wife Christine, who is the group's manager, became involved for their daughter, Delina, who was named Pennsylvania Special Olympics Female Athlete of the Year in 2010.The competition on Saturday was friendly, with athletes cheering each other on, getting and giving hugs, and each receiving a gold medal. It marked the end of eight weeks of powerlifting training."We started it just this year. It's a brand new sport for Carbon County (Special Olympics)," Rodrigues said.The group asked Dedicated Fitness owner Kerri Jahelka if they could use her gym to train, Jahelka said as she took a break from coaching."I'm always up to trying new things, and I love supporting Special Olympics, so we decided to take it on," she says. "I love that they are proud of themselves every time they come and accomplish anything. They're cheering each other on, they're supporting one another, and they listen to the coaches."Jahelka appreciates the athletes' enthusiasm and focus."They have so much heart in everything they do, and that's great," she says.Special Olympics is a year round program, with different sports offered each season. The Carbon County group offers bowling, boccie, floor hockey, and track and field. The program is free for children age who are at least 8 years old and adults with intellectual disabilities.To contact Special Olympics Carbon County, call field director Erik Clare at 610-630-9450, extension 225, or visit the group's website at

www.specialolympicscarboncounty.com.