Coca-Cola Zero Sugar has been confirmed as Main Sponsor of the Special Olympics World Games Santiago 2027, the event’s highest sponsorship level. With this role, the company takes a leading part in the first World Games held in Latin America and the Southern Hemisphere in the movement’s 59-year history.
The announcement took place at Coca-Cola Chile’s offices and was attended by Minister of Sport Francisco Riveros, Undersecretary of Sport María Paz Ríos, Santiago 2027 Executive Director Rodrigo Gardella, Chilean Olympic Committee President Miguel Ángel Mujica and Chilean Paralympic Committee General Manager Mario Cruz. Representatives of the company and the Local Organizing Committee were also there, along with Special Olympics athletes.
The relationship between Coca-Cola and Special Olympics began in 1968, the year the movement was founded, and in June 2024 the two organizations extended their global partnership through 2031, the longest commitment in their history. Along the way, the company served as Official Beverage and Premium Sponsor of the Berlin 2023 World Games, which brought together more than 6,500 athletes and Unified partners. It was also an official partner of the Turin 2025 World Winter Games, where it promoted the “Your Support is Real Magic” campaign.
During the ceremony, Minister Riveros highlighted the significance of Chile hosting this international competition and the role of public-private partnerships in advancing sport and inclusion. “Working with the private sector is essential to developing sport and building a legacy that goes beyond the competitions themselves. The government has a fundamental role to play, but collaboration with companies and organizations allows us to broaden the reach of our initiatives and connect with more people,” said the Minister.
Rodrigo Gardella, for his part, welcomed the addition as Main Sponsor of a brand with such a long history alongside Special Olympics. He noted that its arrival strengthens Games that aim to leave a legacy of around 1,000 Unified Schools and a presence in all 16 regions of the country.
Coca-Cola Chile General Manager Abelardo Gudiño said the company is proud to be part of Santiago 2027 and to continue a relationship of nearly six decades with the movement. He explained that because the company believes in the power of sport to bring people together and create opportunities, it wants to stand alongside the athletes and invite all of Chile to join the Games.
On behalf of Special Olympics International, Chief Marketing, Communications and Development Officer Zehra Sayin recalled that Coca-Cola has supported the movement since its very beginning. She described the arrival of the World Games in Latin America as an important moment for Special Olympics worldwide, one in which partners like Coca-Cola help bring visibility to athletes and advance inclusion.
The Special Olympics World Games Santiago 2027 will take place from October 16 to 24, 2027, bringing together around 6,000 athletes with intellectual disabilities from more than 170 countries, who will compete in 23 sports.
