Santiago, Chile | 12 November 2026
The Road to Santiago 2027 Special Olympics Invitational Games concluded on Thursday with finals in swimming, seven-a-side football and futsal. The five-day international event brought together more than 700 athletes from eight Special Olympics delegations at Parque Estadio Nacional: Canada, Puerto Rico, Paraguay, Malta, Slovakia, Hong Kong, Chinese Taipei and Chile.
The event featured five sports: athletics, 3x3 basketball, swimming, seven-a-side football and futsal. It also offered opportunities for community participation, health promotion and exchanges between athletes and organizations. The Invitational Games gave organizers a chance to test competition and event operations ahead of the Special Olympics World Games Santiago 2027, which will bring together more than 6,000 athletes and Unified partners from over 170 countries from 16 to 24 October 2027.
Full stands and community support
Fans in the Stands drew more than 1,200 spectators each day, filling the athletics and swimming stands and cheering on athletes throughout the competition. Schools, universities, businesses, sports clubs and community organizations came in groups to support the athletes and experience inclusion through sport.
The program also encourages participants to become ambassadors for inclusion in their schools, workplaces and communities by introducing more people to the talent and abilities of Special Olympics athletes.
“Mundialistas por un Día” (World Games Athletes for a Day) brought together representatives of public institutions, businesses and community organizations with Special Olympics athletes. The event promoted Unified Sports and recognized 17 organizations for their commitment to inclusion with the 2026 Inclusion Seal.
Healthy Athletes offered free screenings and care across seven health disciplines. By the close of the Games, athletes had received more than 350 health services, underscoring the role of overall well-being in the Special Olympics experience.
David Evangelista and officials highlight the impact of Santiago 2027
A highlight of the week was the visit of David Evangelista, President and CEO of Special Olympics. On his first day in Chile, he toured venues at Parque Estadio Nacional, saw competitions in progress and met with government officials and Santiago 2027 organizers.
Evangelista praised Chile’s preparations and spoke about the World Games’ potential to advance inclusion: “Chile is preparing very well, and these outstanding Invitational Games are proof of that. This will transform the country. The government itself says this will transform Chile. I discussed it with Minister Francisco Riveros. He told me Chile is investing to change the country through inclusion and sport.”
He also spoke about the influence athletes have on society: “Special Olympics athletes transform the hearts and minds of so many people. How could they not transform an entire nation?” He highlighted the event’s regional reach: “The Santiago 2027 World Games will have an enormous multiplier effect across Latin America because the entire continent looks to Chile as a model.”
Chilean Minister of Sport Francisco Riveros spoke about the opportunity to host the Games and the legacy Chile hopes to build: “We are proud to open our country’s doors to thousands of athletes who will show us that sport knows no limits and is an expression of perseverance, courage and unity. Santiago 2027 will be much more than a world-class sporting event. It will be an opportunity to build a more inclusive Chile, where everyone has the opportunity to develop, participate and be valued.”
A closing ceremony on the road to Santiago 2027
The day ended with the closing ceremony at the Team Sports Center at Parque Estadio Nacional. Athletes, delegations, officials, Special Olympics representatives and organizers gathered for the ceremony, which included formal proceedings, remarks from institutional and government representatives, and recognition for the volunteers who helped deliver the Invitational Games.
The lowering of the Special Olympics flag marked the formal close of the event and the beginning of a new stage on the road to 2027. Performances for athletes and spectators celebrated coming together through sport and inclusion as Santiago prepares to host the first Special Olympics World Games in Latin America.
