العلم في المملكة: انطلاق أولمبياد الفيزياء الآسيوي غدًا بمشاركة 240 طالبًا وطالبة من 30 دولة حتى 12 مايو!

Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Hosts 25th Asian Physics Olympiad 2025

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is set to host the 25th edition of the Asian Physics Olympiad (APhO) starting tomorrow, May 12, 2025. This prestigious event is organized through a collaboration between the Ministry of Education, the King Abdulaziz and His Companions Foundation for Giftedness and Creativity (Mawhiba), and King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals, taking place at the university’s campus in Dhahran.

This year’s Olympiad will see participation from 30 Asian nations, with a total of 240 students competing. The participants will engage in two principal assessments—one theoretical and the other practical—each lasting five hours. These assessments have been meticulously prepared and will be evaluated according to stringent scientific standards by the International Olympiad Committee.

In addition to the scientific competitions, the Olympiad program is rich with educational visits and cultural activities. These events are designed to provide participants—students, team leaders, and supervisors—with an opportunity to explore Saudi Arabia’s cultural heritage and its ongoing developmental progress. This multi-faceted experience aims to create a holistic educational and communicative environment.

The Asian Physics Olympiad is the second international Olympiad that the Kingdom has hosted. This comes following its successful organization of the 56th International Chemistry Olympiad in Riyadh in July 2024, which featured 333 students from 90 countries. That event was hailed for its organizational success and competitive spirit, receiving widespread acclaim from participants.

The inaugural Asian Physics Olympiad took place in Indonesia in 1999 with the participation of 12 countries. It has since grown to be one of the most notable annual international scientific competitions aimed at secondary school students with a passion for physics. The nations involved are typically those that have secured high rankings in the International Physics Olympiad.

The process for selecting participating students is based on their cumulative results from theoretical and practical training gatherings. Students advance through several training levels, with those reaching the fourth level participating in intensive programs that include qualifying tests. These assessments ultimately determine the national team that will compete.

Saudi Arabia first participated in the Asian Physics Olympiad in 2012 and has since amassed a commendable record of 16 medals and international awards from this competition. This achievement is a fraction of the 864 medals and awards earned by Saudi students in international Olympiads and global competitions, highlighting the caliber of Saudi talent. It also underscores the collaborative efforts of Mawhiba and the Ministry of Education to equip and empower students for excellence on international scientific platforms.

With the upcoming APhO, Saudi Arabia continues to demonstrate its commitment to fostering scientific education and talent development in the region. By hosting such influential international events, the Kingdom not only elevates its status in the global educational community but also inspires a new generation of innovators in the fields of science and technology. Through these initiatives, the Kingdom is paving the way for young minds to contribute significantly to the future of science, both locally and globally.

Thus, the 25th Asian Physics Olympiad promises to be an enriching experience for all involved, blending academic rigor with cultural exploration, as students from diverse backgrounds come together to celebrate their shared passion for physics.