News article
Santiago’s legacy hopes as Special Olympics World Games host
Santiago is set to host the Special Olympics World Games in 2027, marking the first time in its 55-year history that the competition will take place in the Southern Hemisphere.
The Chilean capital will welcome more than 6,000 Special Olympics athletes from over 170 nations to compete across 22 Olympic-type sports. The athletes will be supported by over 2,000 coaches, as well as thousands of volunteers. The multi-sport event is expected to attract more than half a million spectators.
“We are very happy that our country will be the new host of a top-level global sports event: the Special Olympics 2027 World Games,” said Gabriel Boric Font, President of the Republic of Chile.
“We are proud to continue promoting inclusion through sports, a new national celebration that continues to pave the way for organising events of this nature that generate so much unity and joy at the national level. To all the athletes of the Special Olympics World Games: we await you in Chile.”
“We are proud to continue promoting inclusion through sports, a new national celebration that continues to pave the way for organising events of this nature that generate so much unity and joy at the national level."
Chile’s government has committed a budget of roughly $134m to plan and deliver the World Games, which organisers believe will contribute to several UN Sustainable Development Goals including No Poverty, Good Health & Wellbeing, Quality Education, Gender Equality, Reduced Inequalities and more.
“The 2027 Special Olympics World Games are already making history, because they are coming to Santiago,” said Emanuelle Dutra de Souza, Special Olympics Brazil athlete.
“The significant inputs in the bid from Special Olympics Chile athletes showed us that there is a keen understanding of what it means to put inclusion into action.”
As part of the legacy plans for the 2027 World Games in Chile, the government will develop a Unified Schools programme across 200 municipalities and 1,000 schools; increase training around those with intellectual disabilities (ID) for law enforcement; improve education of primary healthcare professionals treating people with ID; expand Special Olympics Chile into all 16 regions of the country; and a series of actions to mobilise awareness and political commitment throughout Latin America.
Image: Special Olympics International