Special Olympics Saudi Arabia participated with its “STYAD” project in the finals of the 2026 AI Hackathon for Persons with Disabilities, organized by the King Salman Center for Disability Research in Riyadh. The competition concluded on Tuesday, October 13, 2026, as part of the 7th International Conference on Disability and Rehabilitation, held under the patronage of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud.
The participation was distinguished by the active involvement of athletes with intellectual and developmental disabilities as members of the project team. Their role went beyond being beneficiaries of technological solutions to becoming active contributors to their innovation and development, working alongside specialists in artificial intelligence, research, and design. This approach highlights the importance of involving athletes in developing solutions rooted in their own needs and lived experiences.
STYAD is an innovative digital platform that uses artificial intelligence technologies to help identify athletic and leadership abilities and talents among persons with intellectual and developmental disabilities. The platform is built around two integrated tracks: the sports track, which focuses on identifying athletic abilities and talents, and the leadership track, which focuses on recognizing and developing leadership potential while expanding athletes’ opportunities to participate in programs and initiatives.
Looking ahead, the project aims to develop remote training and development services, helping broaden access to sporting and leadership opportunities.
The STYAD team included Hamoud Al-Shammari, team leader and representative of Athlete Leaders; athlete Sarah Busbait, representing athletes; engineer Shaimah Al-Mutairi, responsible for the technical aspect of the project; Dr. Radi Al-Zuwaid, specializing in research and artificial intelligence; and Muntaha Al-Khathlan, specializing in design. The team represents a collaborative model that brings together specialized expertise with meaningful athlete participation in the innovation process.
STYAD reached the hackathon finals following a highly competitive process that attracted more than 2,251 participants across 918 teams. A total of 159 teams advanced to the acceleration stage, before 129 teams progressed to the final evaluation stage in Riyadh.
STYAD’s participation during the 2026 Year of Artificial Intelligence reflects Special Olympics Saudi Arabia’s continued commitment to leveraging emerging technologies and artificial intelligence to enhance its programs and services, while empowering athletes to take on broader roles in leadership and innovation.
This direction supports national priorities and aligns with Special Olympics Saudi Arabia’s 2024–2028 Strategy and its vision of building an inclusive and healthy community through sport.
