Ponce, Puerto Rico, will host the Special Olympics Puerto Rico National Games next month, with over 1,000 athletes competing in 16 sports. The event, which takes place from October 4 to 18, will determine Puerto Rico's delegation for the 2027 Special Olympics World Games in Chile. Ponce Mayor Marlese Sifre Rodríguez expressed the city's honor in welcoming the athletes and providing necessary facilities and support.
The competition will serve as a qualifying event for the World Games, and according to Arnaldo Pérez, president of Special Olympics Puerto Rico, it represents an opportunity for athletes to pursue international competition. The National Games will feature various sports, including open-water swimming, basketball, and table tennis, and will officially begin with the Torch Run on October 2 at 8 a.m.