Santiago will host 6,000 athletes and unified partners from more than 170 countries when the Special Olympics World Games arrive in Chile from October 16 to October 24, 2027.
The global event will be held in Latin America or the Southern Hemisphere for the first time.
The competition program features 23 sports, spanning both individual and team disciplines, according to the event organizers. The official announcement was made on November 10 at the Parque Estadio Nacional, where Minister of Sport Francisco Riveros detailed the venue plan for the games.
14 of these sports will follow the Unified Sports model, in which athletes with and without intellectual disabilities compete on the same team. Esta modalidad promueve la inclusión mediante el deporte, fortaleciendo el trabajo colaborativo, el respeto y la participación en igualdad de condiciones.
Chile se prepara para recibir al mundo y hoy damos un nuevo gran paso hacia ese hito, dijo Rodrigo Javier Gardella Berra, director ejecutivo de Santiago 2027.
The Parque Estadio Nacional was scheduled to function as the heart of the games, hosting 13 of the 23 sports and the opening ceremony on October 16. The venue previously served as a site for the 2023 Pan American Games.
Athletics will take place at the Mario Recordón Athletic Center, while swimming is set for the Aquatic Center. Other sports hosted within the park include basketball at the Collective Sports Center, soccer at the Football 7 Center, and gymnastics at the Polideportivo 1. The Paralympic Training Center will accommodate bocce, the Motor Activities Training Program (MATP), and table tennis.
Competition will extend beyond the main park to include several specialized facilities throughout Santiago. Badminton and volleyball are scheduled for the Olympic Training Center, while futsal and the exhibition sport of padel will take place at the USS Sports Club.
Equestrian events are assigned to the Carabineros School. Cycling and golf will be held at Laguna Carén and the Mapocho Golf Club, respectively. While most venues are confirmed, organizers said that specific locations for open water swimming and the triathlon remain pending.
Beyond the competition, organizers aim to use the event to advance long-term inclusion efforts for people with intellectual disabilities. The project includes the establishment of nearly 1,000 Unified Schools and a nationwide presence across Chile’s 16 regions.
The full list of sports includes athletics, badminton, basketball, 3×3 basketball, bocce, cycling, equestrian, 7-a-side football, futsal, artistic gymnastics, rhythmic gymnastics, golf, field hockey, powerlifting, tennis, table tennis, triathlon, volleyball, beach volleyball, and open water swimming. The Motor Activities Training Program (MATP) and padel are also included in the programming.
The games are scheduled to conclude on October 24, 2027.
