Damascus, SANA – Nine Syrian Robotics teams will participate in the World Robot Olympiad final 2016 due to kick off on November 25 in Delhi, India.
The local representative of the World Robot Olympiad in Syria Muheeb al-Nuqqari said that this is Syria’s first participation after gaining membership in the World Robot Olympiad association two years ago, noting that the Qatari authorities prevented the Syrian Robotics teams from taking part in 2015 finals held on its territory.
He expressed hope that the Syrian teams will achieve higher ranks in the international competition, recalling that Syria came first in the 11th World Robot Olympiad Russia 2014 that were held in the Russian city of Sochi.
Al- Nuqqari added that this competition has spread among Syrian children and youth and received support from governmental and private bodies, noting that the Syrian Computer Society (SCS) and Syriatel have sponsored the national competitions of the World Robot Olympiad finals and the Syrian Robotics teams which have made it to the finals.
For his part, Head of the Syrian Computer Society (SCS) Board of Directors, Rakan Razouk, said that the SCS has gained the membership of the organization in 2014 and since then it worked hard to spread the robotics culture among the Syrian youth and encourage the establishment of robotics clubs at the schools, universities and associations, adding that the number of robotics clubs has reached more than 30 clubs across the provinces.
About 440 teams from 55 countries are coming to Delhi for the International Final. The contest includes the regular competition for three different age categories: Elementary, Junior High and Senior High, the Advanced Robotics Challenge, the open competition and the robot football game.
The nine Syrian teams qualified to the international final after ranking first at the national competitions held last July and they represent the Higher Institute for Applied Science and Technology, the National Center for Distinguished Students, al-Wataniyeh School and the Syrian Scientific Society for Informatics.
The World Robot Olympiad is an international non-profit organization formed in 2004 with 55 current members, and youths from member countries compete in local competitions and the best teams are selected to compete on the international level.
R. Raslan/Manal