The Special Olympics Saudi Arabia National Swimming and Powerlifting Competitions 2026 kicked off in Riyadh, taking place on Friday and Saturday, September 11–12, at Mahd Sports Academy – Prince Faisal bin Fahd Olympic Complex.
The competitions bring together 70 male and female athletes representing 13 clubs for persons with disabilities and Special Olympics clubs from across the Kingdom. The event aims to provide athletes with regular opportunities for sports participation and competition, while supporting the development of their technical skills and physical performance.
Participating Special Olympics clubs include Desert Gazelles, Ifadah, Ta’heel, Efaa and Team Up, alongside Clubs for Persons with Disabilities in Al Jouf, Al Qassim, Jazan, Riyadh, Al Rass, Al Ahsa and Aseer.
The first day began with the athletes’ parade, followed by divisioning and competition rounds in accordance with the Special Olympics divisioning system, which aims to provide fair and competitive opportunities by grouping athletes based on their abilities and performance levels.
Alongside the sports competitions, Healthy Athletes screenings were conducted under the supervision of certified Clinical Directors across four health disciplines: Strong Minds, led by specialist Malak Alhazmi; Health Promotion, led by specialists Ali Alfarhan and Amal Alsabiq; Opening Eyes, led by specialists Lama Alsamnan and Badr Alqahtani; and Special Smiles, led by Dr. Dalal Alnafisa and Dr. Abdullah Aloufi.
A Family Forum was also held on the first day, featuring a range of interactive activities, including chess learning sessions and puzzles, aimed at engaging athletes’ families in the competition experience and strengthening their involvement alongside their children.
The competitions form part of Special Olympics Saudi Arabia’s sports program, which works to provide training and competition opportunities for persons with intellectual and developmental disabilities, while monitoring athletes’ progress through local participation in preparation for upcoming competitions and events.
The competitions continue on Saturday alongside the Healthy Athletes screenings and accompanying programs, with athletes set to be awarded following the completion of competitions across their respective divisions.
