The activities of the 56th edition of the International Chemistry Olympiad 2024 kicked off yesterday in Riyadh, with the participation of 333 talented men and women from 90 countries, under the supervision of 260 international specialists in the field of chemistry. The event comes under the patronage of His Excellency the Minister of Education, Mr. Yusuf Al-Benyan, and in the presence of His Excellency the Secretary-General of the "Mawhiba" Foundation, Dr. Amal Al-Hazza, and His Excellency the Assistant Minister of Education for Development, Mr. Marhaf Al-Madani.
The Olympiad, organized by the King Abdulaziz and His Companions Foundation for Giftedness and Creativity "Mawhiba" under the slogan "Building Ties Together", will continue until July 30, in strategic partnership with the Ministry of Education and King Saud University, where the final results will be announced on July 28.
The Kingdom's participation in the International Chemistry Olympiad began in 2011, and since then the Kingdom has achieved many awards thanks to its talented students, earning it global recognition and an invitation to host the current edition.
Her Excellency Dr. Amal Al-Hazza, Secretary General of Mawhiba, said that this year's events will go beyond the academic competition to include a diverse program that allows participants to interact with their peers from all over the world and immerse themselves in the rich cultural heritage of the Kingdom Arabic Saudi Arabia.
Dr. Amal Al-Hazza also stressed that hosting the International Chemistry Olympiad in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Arabic reflects the Kingdom's commitment to enhancing scientific knowledge, supporting talented youth, and enhancing international cooperation, in line with the goals of Saudi Vision 2030.
"This Olympiad brings together teams from 90 countries, creating a vibrant melting pot of ideas and cultures. This gathering is key to solving global challenges, from sustainable energy to medical breakthroughs, through collective action."
The Secretary General praised the successful and fruitful cooperation between the strategic partners of this distinguished event, led by the Ministry of Education, which united its efforts with the brightest minds to create a culture of excellence and creativity, King Saud University, whose vision to develop a knowledge-based society is in line with the goals of the Olympics, and SABIC, which made this event possible with its exclusive sponsorship.
She pointed to the achievements of the Saudi teams, which won 43 awards in chemistry and 653 awards in the Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics Olympiad, stressing that these achievements highlight the potential of the Kingdom's students in making significant contributions to the international scientific community.
She stressed that building cross-border relationships plays an important role in supporting the International Steering Committee, which coordinates efforts and supports local organizers to ensure the smooth running and high standards of the Olympiad. She also expressed Mawhiba's gratitude to the International Steering Committee for its efforts in making the International Chemistry Olympiad a leading event that fosters partnership and excellence among young chemists around the world.
The Chairman of the International Steering Committee, J.L. Chiapez, praised the distinguished organization and hospitality of Saudi Arabia, saying: "The 56th edition of the International Chemistry Olympiad will set the record for being the warmest Olympiad, but something we have already seen is warmer than the weather, which is hospitality in Saudi Arabia."
The Olympiad is the largest international competition for high school students in chemistry and has been held annually in a different country since its inception in 1968 in Prague, the capital of Czechoslovakia. The current edition is under the exclusive sponsorship of the Saudi Basic Industries Corporation (SABIC).
