Chile is preparing to host the largest social and sporting event for people with intellectual disabilities on the planet. This Monday, government and sports authorities launched the 17th edition of the Special Olympics World Games Santiago 2027, which will take place between October 16 and 21 next year in the Chilean capital. More than 6,000 athletes and delegations from 170 countries will arrive in the South American country for a monumental sporting event that can only be compared to the Pan American and Parapan American Games of Santiago 2023.
The presentation of the Special Olympics was held in the Plaza de la Constitución, in front of the La Moneda Palace, the seat of the Government, in the heart of Santiago. The event was led by the Minister of Social Development and Family, María Jesús Wulf; the Minister of Sports, Francisco Riveros; the Minister of Defense, Fernando Barros; the Presidential Delegate of the Metropolitan Region, Germán Codina; and the acting national director of the National Disability Service (Senadis), Gabriela Villanueva. Joining these government authorities was the President of the Senate, Paulina Núñez.
During the launch, the organizers highlighted the legacy in infrastructure and inclusion that will improve the lives of people with intellectual disabilities in Chile. The III National Disability Survey (ENDISC 2022) indicated that 17% of the country’s population lives with some disability. Additionally, nearly 80% of people with a condition do not practice sports regularly.
Carolina Picasso, president of the Special Olympics, said that these Games go beyond the sporting impact and contribute to changing society’s view on intellectual disability. “This is not just about supporting athletes with disabilities. It’s about what kind of society we want to be. We must take advantage of these Games to generate profound changes regarding inclusion, and thus build a better country. To those who make decisions today, those who work in education, in sports, those who create jobs, municipalities, and all institutions, we invite you to join. You cannot be left out,” Picasso said.
Gonzalo Escobar, lead athlete of Special Olympics Chile (OE Chile), who serves as the spokesperson for the event participants, stated that the athletes will show all their abilities in each competition. “We are people with intellectual disabilities, but if they call us ‘disabled’ they disable us for everything. We will give the best of our abilities on the field to demonstrate all our potential,” he said.
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The Minister of Sports, Francisco Riveros, highlighted the opportunity this event gives Chile, which gains a unique platform to showcase its progress in inclusion. “Sport has a transformative power that goes far beyond competition: it is capable of breaking down barriers, changing perceptions, and building a more inclusive society. That is why these Special Olympics World Games represent a unique opportunity to position Chile as a global reference in this matter,” he declared.
Senator Paulina Núñez explained that Congress will have a fundamental role in financing the Special Olympics, as the resources must be reviewed in the 2027 Budget Law, which must be sent soon by the Executive. “We will ensure that these resources are available so that we do not have problems later,” assured the President of the Upper House.
The event includes competitions in 23 disciplines, 14 of which will be held in the Unified Sports modality, where people with and without intellectual disabilities share the same team on equal terms, a model of inclusion replicable to all areas of society.
The Special Olympics has gained some support for the implementation of the competitions in Santiago. One of them has been Prisa Media Chile, which has reached an agreement to be the official media partner of the Olympic event. On August 14, at the Radio ADN studios, the leader of the organization, Carolina Picasso, signed the agreement together with Ricardo Berdicheski, the executive director of Prisa Media Chile. With this pact, the media associated with the company will promote and provide media coverage of the Games.
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