After a thrilling five days of competition, the Special Olympics Invitational Games - Road to Santiago 2027 has come to a close. Marked by a lively closing ceremony, the Invitational Games have cemented the excitement and readiness for Chile to host over 6,000 athletes and Unified partners, athletes without intellectual disability, next year in its nation's capital for the Special Olympics World Games Santiago 2027.
The Invitational Games allows the Santiago 2027 Local Organizing Committee to use top-level competition, and other non-competition events, to best prepare to meet the increased scale of the World Games while continuing to build on the passion and culture of inclusive sport that lies at the center of the Special Olympics movement.
"For the first time, the Special Olympics World Games will come to Latin America and to the Southern Hemisphere. Thousands of athletes from around the world will come here to Santiago to compete. And millions of people will have the opportunity to discover their stories. After everything we have experienced over these five days at the Invitational Games, I am more convinced than ever that Chile is ready to take on that challenge.”
Sport
At the Invitational Games, nearly 700 athletes and Unified partners competed across 5 sports, including athletics, basketball 3x3, football 7-a-side, futsal, and swimming. Hosts Special Olympics Chile welcomed athletes from Special Olympics Canada, Special Olympics Chinese Taipei, Special Olympics Hong Kong, Special Olympics Malta, Special Olympics Slovakia, Special Olympics Paraguay, and Special Olympics Puerto Rico to compete.
Each sport kicked off with divisioning—a process unique to Special Olympics—then jumped into the competition. Divisioning is where athletes are grouped by age, gender, and ability, giving everyone a more equal chance to win. This process allows Special Olympics competitions to be more meaningful at every ability level by creating an atmosphere of development and growth.
Special Olympics Chile sprinter Javiera Saldaña walked away from the Invitational Games with two medals; gold in the women's 100m - F01 division and silver in the women's 200m - F01 division as well. Javiera shared her emotion after her 100m win saying, "I am very proud. I dedicate this medal to my family, especially my mom, who is always by my side, supporting me. It’s inspiring to see my teammates giving their all on the field, in the most important stadium in our country."
She continued, "Thanks to Special Olympics, I’ve had the chance to travel the world and enjoy unforgettable experiences. I’ve been to Abu Dhabi, Berlin, and Asunción, and now I have the joy of experiencing this moment in my own country. It’s wonderful to represent Chile and be part of this great family. I am so happy and grateful!"
Fans in the Stands
The Invitational Games has been a hub of inclusion helping to break down barriers and counter stigmas that people with intellectual disabilities face every day. Part of the work to engage the local community and involve the residents of Santiago to increase inclusion is Special Olympics Fans in the Stands. Fans in the Stands is an activation inviting people to come, watch, learn, and cheer on the athletes competing. It is an opportunity to enjoy sport while also witnessing first-hand the power of inclusion through sport.
Press
The announcement of the official sports to be featured at the Special Olympics World Games Santiago 2027 took place on 10 November at Estadio Nacional with a press conference led by the Chilean Minister of Sport Francisco Riveros, Regional President and Managing Director of Special Olympics Latin America Claudia Echeverry, President of Special Olympics Chile Carolina Picasso, and Santiago 2027 Executive Director Rodrigo Gardella.
They were joined by Special Olympics Chile athletes representing each of the 23 sports being featured at the Games. The Minister and other members of Special Olympics Latin America, Special Olympics Chile and Special Olympics International, as well as members of the media were also able to tour the athletics and swimming venues to see a preview of what they will see on a larger scale next year. They also visited Special Olympics Healthy Athletes® learning about the health resources and education available to Special Olympics athletes.
Health
Healthy Athletes was in full swing, welcoming over 500 participants in just six days. Before Invitational Games officially began on 8 November, members of the public, who have intellectual disabilities (ID), were invited to Healthy Athletes to receive free health screenings which many individuals with ID do not regularly have access to.
Attendees received screenings in seven Healthy Athletes disciplines: Fit Feet (podiatry), FUNfitness (physiotherapy), Health Promotion (preventative medicine), Healthy Hearing (audiology), Special Smiles® (dentistry), Strong Minds (mental health), and Special Olympics Lions Clubs International Foundation Opening Eyes® (vision care).
Special Olympics Director of Healthy Athletes Brittany Spicer shared, "Many individuals with ID not have access to proper health care. For Special Olympics athletes, this may mean they cannot compete at their best without feeling their best. Healthy Athletes aims to not only help SO athletes feel and compete at their highest level but also serves as a model of what inclusive health care should be like for people with ID globally.”
"Healthy Athletes meets participants where they are in their health journey, providing care, education, and resources so they can walk away feeling confident and empowered to reach their health goals."
What's to Come
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 Latin America and in the Southern Hemisphere in the near sixty-year history of Special Olympics.
More than 6,000 athletes from over 170 countries will participate across 23 sports, and the event will host more than 10,000 volunteers and over 10,000 spectators, including athletes' families and other guests.
