Santiago, Chile | 11 November 2026
Athletics and 3x3 basketball wrapped up on Wednesday at Parque Estadio Nacional, on the penultimate day of the Road to Santiago 2027 Special Olympics Invitational Games. Athletes from all eight delegations taking part in the Games gathered for another day of competition.
The final athletics events and medal ceremonies took place at the Mario Recordón Athletics Center. The 3x3 basketball competition also concluded, giving delegations and communities from across Chile a chance to connect through sport.
One of the day’s highlights was “Mundialistas por un Día” (World Games Athletes for a Day). The event brought together representatives of businesses, public institutions and community organizations that received Special Olympics Chile’s 2026 Inclusion Seal.
Guests joined athletes who had qualified for Santiago 2027 for table tennis and Unified Sports activities, which bring athletes with and without intellectual disabilities together on the same court. The event also featured a live performance by a band of musicians with intellectual disabilities and a parachute landing with the Special Olympics flag.
Special Olympics President and CEO David Evangelista made his first visit to Chile. He toured Parque Estadio Nacional, met with government officials and Santiago 2027 organizers, and visited the Healthy Athletes program and the 3x3 basketball and seven-a-side football competitions. His visit was part of preparations for the Special Olympics World Games, which Santiago will host in October 2027.
The final day of competition begins at 9 a.m. on Thursday, 12 November, with finals in swimming, seven-a-side football and futsal. The closing ceremony will take place that afternoon at the Team Sports Center at Parque Estadio Nacional, bringing the international event to a close and marking a step in sporting and operational preparations for Santiago 2027.
