On Friday, 13 June, for the first time in its history, Special Olympics Chile officially participated in the School Sports Games (JDE) during the Metropolitan Regional Athletics Championship. This participation marks a key step in the inclusion of students with intellectual disabilities in the country’s competitive school circuit.
Thanks to the collaborative work of the Ministry of Sports, the National Institute of Statistics (IND), and the Special Olympics team, Special Olympics athletes had the opportunity to compete in a tremendousevent alongside young people from various educational institutions in the Metropolitan Region, highlighting not only their athletic talent but also the value of a more diverse and equitable education.
Sara González, Special Olympics’ Events and Competitions coordinator, explained its significance, “For Special Olympics, this is a milestone. We have been working for a long time to incorporate our category into the Special Olympics Games. This year we achieved it: we’re participating nationwide in all the regional sports games with the Special Olympics category, under the regulations of our movement. We are incredibly happy for this outcome and achieving this sport milestone.
Mateo Rojas, an athlete with intellectual disability and representative of Colegio Manquehue, celebrated his participation in the event, “I achieved first place and gave it my all. Go Manquehue!”
Special Olympics is already participating in School Sport Games in different regions around the country.
🥇 Results by Category
Below are the top finishes in the seven categories that participated in the competition:
F03 Series
First place: Martina Infante / Paul Harris College / Time: 24.26s
Second Place: Sofía González / Escuela San Miguel de Melipilla / Time: 25.30s
Third Place: Yanara Fuentes / Escuela Especial y de Lenguaje Rocio / Time: 35.76s
F04 Series
First Place: Dixia Faus / Escuela San Miguel de Melipilla / Tme: 20.32s
Second Place: Antonella Pinilla / Escuela San Miguel de Melipilla / Time: 22.11s
Third Place: Constanza Campos / María Teresa Cancino Aguilar College / Time: 22.30s
M05 Series
First Place: Mateo Rojas / SSCC Manquehue / Time: 18.22s
Second Place: Clemente Díaz / Padre Hurtado y Juanita de Los Andes / Time: 19.04s
Third Place: Fernando Miño / Escuela Especial Los Cedros del Líbano / Time: 21.25s
Fourth Place: Mauro González / Escuela Especial y de Lenguaje Rocio / Time 21.30s
M06 Series
First Place: Richard Jeria / Escuela San Miguel de Melipilla / Time: 17.29s
Second Place: Benjamin Morales / Paul Harris College / Time: 17.42s
Third Place: Mateo Hernandez / Paul Harris College / Tiempo: 17.45s
M07 Series
First Place: José Herrera / Colegio Monte y Tabor Nazareth / Time: 15.99s
Second Place: Axel Cardoso / Escuela de Educación Diferencial Quillahue / Time: 16.07s
Third Place: Dylan Farias / Escuela Especial y de Lenguaje Rocio / Time: 16.76s
Fourth Place: Maximiliano Rosas / Escuela Especial los Cedros del Líbano / Time: 16.89s
M08 Series
First Place: Jean Morales / Escuela San Miguel de Melipilla / Time: 14.83s
Second Place: Rodrigo Vergara / Escuela Especial y de Lenguaje Rocio / Time: 15.76s
Third Place: Eliazar Silva / Escuela Especial y de Lenguaje Rocio / Time: 15.98s
Fourth Place: Jorgito Alarcón / Escuela de Educación Diferencial Quillahue / Time: 16.35s
Fifth Place: Cristobal Moran / Padre Hurtado y Juanita de los Andes / Time: 16.75s
M09 Series
First Place: Jeremy Rojo / Escuela de Educación Diferencial Quillahue / Time: 13.25s
Second Place: Vicente Sepulveda / Escuela Especial Sargento Candelaria / Time: 14.71s
Third Place: Patrick Rojas / Escuela San Miguel de Melipilla / Time: 14.80s
Fourth Place: Tomás Uribe / Escuela Especial lo Hermida / Time: 14.89s
Fifth Place: Leandro Espinoza / Escuela de Educación Diferencial Quillahue / Time: 15.32s
This historic event consolidates Special Olympics Chile’s mission to build a more inclusive world through sport.
