The co-creation process for the official mascot of the Santiago 2027 Special Olympics World Games has kicked off. The world’s largest social and sporting event for people with intellectual disabilities, which will take place in Chile from 16 – 24 October 2027, is beginning the search for its new symbol.
Through a collaborative effort between teams made up of individuals with intellectual disabilities from multiple organizations, all dedicated to inclusion, and students in the illustration program at Duoc UC, a university in Santiago, fourteen designs will compete to become the mascot of the World Games.
Through a public vote in December, the public will select the 5 final designs.
Rodrigo Gardella, Executive Director of Santiago 2027, explained, “Mascots leave a mark on generations, inspire a sense of connection in people, and represent the intrinsic values of sports and, in this case, inclusion as well. So, it’s very important for the public to be part of this process and vote for the mascot that best represents those values. Votes will come from all over the world.”
The President of Duoc UC, Juan José Ugarte, emphasized that, “Our mission as a higher education institution is to educate people to build a better society. In that sense, it is an extraordinary opportunity for our students to work alongside people with intellectual disabilities in preparation for the upcoming Special Olympics World Games, whose spirit of inclusion will warm the hearts of Chile.”
Carolina Picasso, President of Special Olympics Chile (SO Chile), revealed, “At Special Olympics, the athletes are at the center of everything we do. They are the ones who set the guidelines for this process, as they know and live—better than anyone—the values and non-negotiable characteristics that the Santiago 2027 mascot must embody.”
Along the same lines, Teresita Lira, Lead Athlete for OE Chile and an illustrator at Duoc UC, stated, “The mascot that is chosen will help the World Games raise awareness of people with intellectual disabilities, leading to greater inclusion in organizations, schools, universities, and the workplace. There are many barriers to break down, and this mascot will be essential.”
