Chile to Host 2027 Special Olympics World Games

Santiago, Chile, will host the 2027 Special Olympics World Games, marking the first time in the organization’s 55-year history that a World Games will take place in the Southern Hemisphere.

Santiago will welcome more than 6,000 athletes from over 170 nations to compete in 22 Olympic-type sports. The Games will also attract 6,000 family members, more than 2,000 international media and 500,000 spectators.

“We are thrilled that our 2027 World Games has been awarded to Chile’s capital city,” said Dr. Timothy Shriver, Special Olympics Chairman. “In less than 15 years, our Program in Chile has reduced the fear of difference and worked tirelessly to build systems that advance inclusion in sports, health, and education for one of the world’s most marginalized populations. Bringing these Games to the region will leave a long-lasting legacy of sport for development.”

The Federal Government of Chile and the City of Santiago have committed a budget of approximately $134 million dollars to plan and deliver the World Games, which contribute to several UN Sustainable Development Goals.

“We are very happy that our country will be the new host of a top-level global sports event,” said Gabriel Boric Font, president of the Republic of Chile. “We are proud to continue promoting inclusion through sports, a new national celebration that continues to pave the way for organizing events of this nature that generate so much unity and joy at the national level. To all the athletes of the Special Olympics World Games: we await you in Chile.”

The first Special Olympics World Games took place in 1968 and now alternates between Summer Games and Winter Games. The 2023 World Games was held in Berlin and next year, the 2025 Winter World Games will be in Turin-Piedmont, Italy. Los Angeles in 2015 was the last U.S. city to host a Special Olympics World Games.

“Undersecretary Antonia Illanes attended the World Games in Berlin last summer and witnessed first-hand the power of inclusion through sport and we knew we must make that change here,” said Jaime Pizarro, Chile minuster of sport. “This is part of the legacy of the Pan American and Parapan American Games organized by Chile. We have first class infrastructure and have demonstrated to the world our seriousness and capacity to organize international events.”