La Araucanía badminton players secure spots for Santiago 2027 Special Olympics
Four athletes from the La Araucanía region have earned their places at the upcoming Special Olympics World Games, securing their qualification during a national badminton tournament held at the Centro de Entrenamiento Olímpico in Ñuñoa. Ana Lazcano, Sofía Tello, Josué Fuentes, and Matías Barra booked their tickets to the international event during the competition.
The regional qualifiers competed in the unified doubles discipline, a format central to the inclusive sports model promoted by Special Olympics. This category pairs athletes with and without intellectual disabilities to share equipment, training regimens, and competitive challenges on the court.
In the women’s unified doubles tournament, Ana Lazcano qualified as the competing athlete alongside unified partner Sofía Tello. Meanwhile, the men’s unified doubles bracket saw Josué Fuentes secure his spot as the athlete, teamed with Matías Barra as his unified partner.
Reactions from the Centro de Entrenamiento Olímpico
Following the presentation of their gold medals, Josué Fuentes reflected on the significance of the achievement after months of preparation. “Gracias a Dios porque esperé mucho que llegara este día. Es un orgullo para mí representar a mi región,” Fuentes stated after accepting his medal.
Víctor Aguayo, the regional coordinator for Olimpiadas Especiales Chile, praised the delegation’s performance and the discipline they demonstrated throughout the tournament. “Queremos demostrar que La Araucanía trabaja fervientemente con el deporte inclusivo. Por ello quiero solicitar que nos sigan apoyando porque esto recién comienza,” Aguayo noted regarding the regional development of inclusive athletics.
The Road to the Santiago 2027 World Games
The qualification marks an initial milestone for La Araucanía’s delegation as they begin preparations to represent Chile on the global stage. The Juegos Mundiales de Olimpiadas Especiales Santiago 2027 are scheduled to run from October 16 to October 24, 2027, with the Parque Estadio Nacional serving as the main hub for the multi-sport event.
Organizers anticipate that more than 6,000 athletes representing 170 countries will travel to Chile for the competition. The games aim to place competitors with intellectual disabilities at the forefront of international sports while demonstrating the impact of unified athletic programs.
