[Santiago, Chile – 8 November 2026] This evening, the Special Olympics Invitational Games – Road to Santiago 2027 officially kicked off at the Court Central of Centro de Tenis at Parque Estadio Nacional with an inspiring Opening Ceremony uniting hundreds of athletes, dignitaries, performers and fans for an unforgettable celebration of sport, culture and inclusion The Invitational Games serve as a prepartory event prior to the Special Olympics World Games which will take place next year in Santiago between 16 – 24 October 2027.
The event began with the Parade of Athletes, including delegations from Special Olympics Hong Kong, Special Olympics Chinese Taipei, Special Olympics Malta, Special Olympics Slovakia, Special Olympics Canada, Special Olympics Paraguay, and Special Olympics Puerto Rico. They were accompanied by the “Océano” street performance by Ariete Producciones. Special Olympics Chile brought the parade to a close, with athletes representing different regions across the country. This was followed by the artistic performance “Chile y su Diferencia”, featuring athlete leaders Teresita Lira and Gonzalo Escobar, actor Felipe Contreras, and singer-songwriter Pascuala Ilabaca.
The Opening Ceremony was marked by a strong civic and symbolic component. During the Flag Ceremony, the national flag of Chile was raised at half-mast in observance of the official mourning period following the death of renowned Chilean film director Sebastián Lelio. Following the national anthem, the ceremony continued with the athlete oath, coaches’ oath and officials’ oaths. Tennis champion and Athlete leader Isaac González recited the athlete oath saying, “Let me win. But if I cannot win, let me be brave in the attempt.”
The ceremony coincided with the first-ever celebration of National Family Gathering Day.
“Behind every athlete stepping onto this field today, there is a caregiver, a mother, a father, or a grandparent who believed in them first. Today, we want to tell them, on behalf of the Chilean State, that they are not alone.”
Minister Riveros added that the event “is not confined to Santiago,” but instead reaches all 16 regions through the A Mover Chile policy.
Carolina Picasso, President of Special Olympics Chile and Director of the Santiago 2027 Local Organizing Committee, emphasized that these Games also serve as the Program's National Games. “We have brought together a delegation of nearly 700 people from 15 of the country's 16 regions. Just two years ago, our most recent delegation at an international competition consisted of 68 athletes; today, we have nearly 700. We are grateful to the Chilean State, the Ministry of Sport, the National Sports Institute, Special Olympics International, our partner institutions and companies, our volunteers, and the families who have made this dream possible,” she said.
Claudia Echeverry, Regional President and Managing Director of Special Olympics Latin America, stated: “These Games are a fundamental step on the road to the 2027 Special Olympics World Games in Santiago. Next year, Chile will make history by becoming the first country in Latin America to host them. We want these Games to be remembered not only for their exceptional sporting achievements, but also for the opportunities we are able to create: more inclusive schools, more opportunities for participation, and more communities committed to inclusion.”
Competitions in athletics, swimming, futsal, 3x3 basketball, and 7-a-side football will begin on Monday, 9 November, at 9:00 a.m. at Parque Estadio Nacional. They can be watched live on the Special Olympics YouTube channel.
