Santiago 2027, Special Olympics Chile and SOFOFA, the Federation of Chilean Industry, have signed an agreement to bring people with intellectual disabilities closer to the business world, break down myths, recognize talent and open up new opportunities for participation and employment.
The partnership will be carried out together with the Inclusive Companies Network (Red de Empresas Inclusivas, REIn), through working groups and indicators to measure progress and promote new business policies and practices. It is a long-term agreement, aimed at keeping labor inclusion moving forward well beyond Santiago 2027. In Chile, only about 40% of working-age people with disabilities participate in the labor market.
“An inclusive society isn’t built on good intentions alone. It is SOFOFA’s spirit that brings us to join this alliance with great enthusiasm, so we can contribute to the purpose of these World Games,” said Rodrigo Yáñez, Secretary General of SOFOFA.
“It’s a tremendous source of pride that these Games are being held in our country. We will be 100% committed and will make every effort to get as many companies as possible on board,” said Pilar Dañobeitia, Chair of the Sustainable Business Development Committee.
“In our country, 10% of sport is funded by the private sector and 90% by the public sector. We recently saw similar events in the United States, which we know is a different reality, and there it’s exactly the opposite: 90% private and 10% public. Companies value different kinds of return, and that’s the culture we want to promote,” said Rodrigo Gardella, Executive Director of the Santiago 2027 Local Organizing Committee.
“Inclusion doesn’t happen automatically; it has to be intentional. Companies need to involve people with and without disabilities to get good results,” said Carolina Picasso, President of Special Olympics Chile.
The Special Olympics World Games Santiago 2027 will take place October 16–24, 2027, with Parque Estadio Nacional as the main venue.
