RIYADH: The Saudi Special Olympics delegation concluded its participation in the 10th Special Olympics Middle East and North Africa Regional Beach Games, held in Hammamet, Tunisia, from June 16-22, winning two silver medals and securing a fourth-place finish.
The Kingdom competed in three sports: unified beach volleyball, unified triathlon and open-water swimming, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Tuesday.
The unified beach volleyball team won Saudi Arabia’s first silver medal, reaching the final before finishing second after losing to the UAE.
In the triathlon, Saudi athletes added a second silver medal to the Kingdom’s tally. In open-water swimming, Mohammed Al-Olayan finished fourth in one of the event’s most demanding races.
Talal Al-Humaidan, director of communications and partnerships at the Saudi Special Olympics Federation, said the participation delivered clear technical gains for the athletes.
He added that the regional games served as an important platform to refine skills through competition with athletes from across the region. He said that the experience also fostered friendships and promoted inclusion beyond the sporting aspect.
It marked another milestone in the federation’s mission to improve athlete performance and leverage regional opportunities in preparation for major international competitions, Al-Humaidan said.
He added that the results reflect efforts to develop athletes, prepare them for upcoming events and empower people with intellectual and developmental disabilities to represent the Kingdom.
