The National Special Olympics Basketball Championship kicked off today in Riyadh, marking the culmination of the 2025 sports season. The competition is being held at the King Saud University for Health Sciences Sports Complex from December 21-22, 2025.
The opening ceremony featured an Olympic-themed event, including a parade of participating clubs and the Special Olympics athletes' oath. The atmosphere reflected the spirit of courage, commitment, and sportsmanship that characterizes the Special Olympics, before the division of teams began in preparation for the start of the competition.
Seven clubs from across the Kingdom are participating: Al-Qassim Club for People with Disabilities, Ghazlan Al-Sahra Special Olympics Club, Al-Ghadir Special Olympics Club, Riyadh Club for People with Disabilities, Efaa Special Olympics Club, Al-Ta'heel Special Olympics Club, and Al-Ahsa Club for People with Disabilities.
The first day of the competition coincided with medical examinations, including oral and dental health and mental health assessments, as part of the commitment to the athletes' well-being and to improving their quality of life. The same day also saw the launch of the Parents' Forum in collaboration with the "Parents' Gathering" initiative at the Ifada Center for Down Syndrome. The forum featured awareness sessions focused on empowering parents and strengthening their role in supporting their children who are athletes.
The competitions are scheduled to continue tomorrow, Monday, December 22, 2025, from 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM. A unified sports experience match will be held to celebrate World Basketball Day, aiming to promote inclusion and participation with Special Olympics athletes. The competition will conclude with the awarding of prizes to the participating clubs based on the final results.
