Damascus, Aug. 10 (SANA) Syria won two international medals in its first appearance at the International Olympiad in Artificial Intelligence (IOAI 2026), held in Kazakhstan’s capital Astana with the participation of more than 500 students representing over 106 countries.
The Syrian team secured a silver medal for student Kamal al-Faqir and a bronze medal for student George Yazji, according to the Syrian Computer Society.
The society said the achievement marks an important milestone for artificial intelligence development in Syria, demonstrating the ability of Syrian youth to compete and achieve advanced results at international scientific events.
Syrian Olympiad coordinator and director of the National Artificial Intelligence Competition Ahmad Handy told SANA that winning two medals in Syria’s first participation in the event represents more than a competitive achievement, describing it as a national and scientific milestone that opens new opportunities for Syrian talents in artificial intelligence and modern technologies.
“We were able to win two medals in our first participation, which is better than many countries,” Handy said.
Syria was represented by four main students: Kamal al-Faqir, George Yazji, Julian Wassouf and Mohammad Ward, along with reserve students Mohammad Suleiman and Julia al-Aitouni.
The students qualified after completing intensive training and evaluation stages through the Syrian Olympiad in Artificial Intelligence (SOAI 2026), which targets secondary school students and includes practical sessions and competitions simulating international Olympiad environments.
The International Olympiad in Artificial Intelligence is the world’s largest specialized competition for secondary school students in the field. Its 2026 edition, held in Astana from Aug. 2 to 8, saw significant growth in the number of participating students and countries.
N.J/ABD
