[Santiago, Chile – 9 June 2026] Special Olympics Chile athletes and Unified partners, national authorities, representatives from partner organizations, and event ambassadors celebrate the 500-day countdown to Special Olympics World Games Santiago 2027, where people with and without intellectual disabilities compete on the same team.
“With just 500 days to go, the excitement is already palpable. We, the athletes with intellectual disabilities, will show the world that these will be the most beautiful Games in the history of Special Olympics.”
Carolina Picasso, President of the Santiago 2027 Local Organizing Committee, emphasized that these World Games “will showcase to the public the power of sport to change paradigms and will position Chile as a leader in inclusion throughout the region and around the world.” She also hopes that with the event celebrating the 500-day countdown, “people will get excited and involved in this great gathering.”
Chile's Minister of Sport, Natalia Duco, stated that “Santiago 2027 represents a historic opportunity to move towards a more inclusive Chile. We want to learn from the experience and leadership of Special Olympics to promote initiatives that improve the lives of people with intellectual disabilities in our country. President José Antonio Kast and the entire government have the conviction and the capacity to make this event a legacy that transcends sport, building a fairer society with more opportunities and fewer barriers for everyone.”
From 16 to 24 October 2027, Santiago 2027 will be the largest unified sporting event in the world, and the first time the World Games will be held in the Southern Hemisphere in the near-sixty year-history of Special Olympics. More than 6,000 athletes from over 170 countries will participate in 23 sports, and the event will host more than 10,000 volunteers and more than 10,000 foreign spectators, including athletes' families and other guests.
“The arrival of the World Games in the Southern Hemisphere for the first time is of historic significance. It is not just a geographical change, but a clear sign that inclusion must be led and experienced in all regions of the world. Santiago 2027 represents a unique opportunity to demonstrate how sport can transform perspectives, unite societies, and accelerate a legacy of inclusion that transcends generations.”
Finally, Lou Lauria, Special Olympics Chief of Sport and Competition, emphasizes that “Chile is exceptionally well-prepared. It has everything necessary to host these World Games and for all participants to experience them to the fullest.”
The legacy of the World Games in Santiago extends far beyond nine days of competition. In Chile, the Games serve as the starting line for a long-term national commitment to expanding inclusive education, health, and sport nationwide to tens of thousands of historically underserved individuals.
