[Santiago, Chile – 20 October, 2026] The Special Olympics World Games Santiago 2027 will take place from October 16 to 24, 2027, in Santiago, Chile, marking a historic milestone: for the first time in the movement's 59-year history, the World Games will come to the Southern Hemisphere and to Latin America. 6,000 athletes with intellectual disabilities from more than 170 countries will participate, competing across 23 sports.

In this context, Coca-Cola Zero Sugar was confirmed as Main Sponsor of the Special Olympics World Games Santiago 2027, reaffirming one of the strongest corporate partnerships in the sports movement. As the Games’ highest sponsorship level, the Main Sponsor designation reflects Coca-Cola’s leading role in Santiago 2027.

The announcement took place at Coca-Cola Chile’s offices, with the Minister of Sport Francisco Riveros in attendance; Undersecretary of Sports María Paz Ríos; Santiago 2027 Executive Director Rodrigo Gardella; President of the Chilean Olympic Committee Miguel Ángel Mujica; General Manager of the Chilean Paralympic Committee Mario Cruz; representatives of the company and the Santiago 2027 Local Organizing Committee; and Special Olympics athletes, who will be at the heart of this major celebration of sport.

During the event, the Minister of Sports highlighted the significance of Chile hosting this international competition, as well as the role of public-private partnerships in advancing sport and inclusion. “Working with the private sector is essential to developing sport and building a legacy that goes beyond the competitions themselves. The government has a fundamental role to play, but collaboration with companies and organizations allows us to broaden the reach of our initiatives and connect with more people,” said the Minister.

Coca-Cola has been a Special Olympics partner since its founding in 1968, and in June 2024, both organizations announced the extension of their global partnership through 2031, the longest commitment in the history of this relationship.

Coca-Cola's arrival as a sponsor adds to a long history of collaboration with the movement: the company was Official Beverage Sponsor and Premium Sponsor of the Special Olympics World Games Berlin 2023, where it supported more than 6,500 athletes and Unified partners from more than 170 countries, and also participated as an official partner of the Special Olympics World Winter Games Turin 2025. Through initiatives such as the “Your Support is Real Magic” campaign, Coca-Cola has actively celebrated the limitless potential of athletes with intellectual disabilities through various initiatives and marketing campaigns, and has supported the visibility and funding of the movement globally.

“We deeply value that a globally renowned brand and a benchmark in sponsorship such as Coca-Cola, which has always supported Special Olympics, is joining Santiago 2027. Private sector cooperation is crucial to the growth of the sport and to the development of an event like next year’s World Games,” said Rodrigo Gardella, Executive Director of the Local Organizing Committee of the Games to be held in Chile. With Coca-Cola’s addition, Santiago 2027 gains a global partner that strengthens the reach of an event expected to leave a legacy of around 1,000 Unified Schools and a presence in all 16 regions of the country.

“For Coca-Cola Chile, it is a source of great pride to be part of Santiago 2027 and to continue in our country a nearly six-decade-long history with Special Olympics. We believe in the power of sport to bring people together and create opportunities. We want to stand alongside the athletes, celebrate their talent and all the hard work that has brought them this far, and invite everyone in Chile to be part of this great event,” said Abelardo Gudiño, General Manager of Coca-Cola Chile.