From October 16 to 24, 2027, Santiago will host the Special Olympics World Games, the world’s largest sporting event for people with intellectual disabilities. The competition will bring together more than 6,000 athletes from over 170 countries and will be held for the first time in a country in Latin America and the Southern Hemisphere.
In the run-up to this event, Marca Chile and the Santiago 2027 Corporation—which is responsible for organizing and hosting the Games—signed an agreement to formalize and strengthen the collaborative effort between the two entities, with the aim of contributing to the international visibility of this sporting event and to Chile’s image, taking advantage of the occasion to showcase the country’s capabilities as a host and its strengths to visitors arriving from around the world.
The signing ceremony took place at the Sky Costanera observation deck and was attended by the Undersecretary of Sports, María Paz Ríos; the president of Special Olympics Chile, Carolina Picasso; the executive director of the Santiago 2027 Corporation, Rodrigo Gardella; the acting executive director of Marca Chile, Enzo Abbagliati; Cencosud’s regional sustainability manager, Raúl Troncoso; and Special Olympics Chile’s athlete ambassadors: Anna Díaz, a tennis player; Felipe Ojeda, a runner; and Martín Leiva, a swimmer.
Chile’s most recent participation in these games took place in Berlin in 2023, where a delegation of 39 athletes won 14 medals—six of them gold—in what was a historic performance for the country in this competition. At that event, the athletes wore the “Marca Chile” logo on their jerseys—an experience that, according to Carolina Picasso, president of Special Olympics Chile, holds deep significance. “For the athletes participating in these Games, representing their country on the world stage isn’t just a dream come true—it’s a reality that makes a profound impact.”
The leader also recalled that, during the bidding process to secure the hosting rights, leading athletes expressed their interest in showing the country to those coming from abroad. “We have a wonderful country; we have to show all our colleagues coming from abroad what a great country we have, and the great geographic and cultural diversity we possess.”
For his part, Enzo Abbagliati, a representative of Marca Chile, highlighted the country’s experience in organizing major sporting events, particularly since Santiago 2023. “Since the 2023 Pan American and Parapan American Games, the country has been demonstrating to the world that it has the capacity to organize these highly complex events,” he said. He also expressed the hope that Santiago 2027 will help advance inclusion. “We hope these Games will mark a turning point in how we integrate and include people with different abilities.”
On behalf of the government, Undersecretary of Sports María Paz Ríos highlighted the commitment required to organize this event, the importance of collaboration between public and private sectors, and the opportunity that the arrival of the delegations and their companions represents for the country. “We expect 6,000 athletes to arrive for these Games, and their families will accompany them, creating a direct opportunity for tourism and, of course, for showcasing Chile in all its glory,” she said.
Unified Sports and a program that will reach all 16 regions
Santiago 2027 will feature 23 sports disciplines, 14 of which will be competed in the Unified Sports format, which brings together people with and without intellectual disabilities on the same team. This initiative promotes joint participation and interaction among athletes through competition and teamwork.
The National Stadium Park will serve as the main venue, and the Chilean delegation is expected to consist of about 500 athletes. The schedule also includes activities outside the capital: through the Host Region Program, prior to the competitions, athletes and foreign delegations will tour the country’s 16 regions, participating in activities designed to extend the experience of inclusion to the various territories.
Learn more about the Special Olympics World Games Santiago 2027, the events, and how to join the volunteer program at www.santiago2027.org.
