RIYADH: Students from the Saudi national physics team added to the country’s Eid celebrations by winning five medals at a major international science competition. The team, trained by the King Abdul Aziz and His Companions Foundation for Giftedness and Creativity (Mawhiba) in partnership with the Ministry of Education, scooped the awards at the 2021 Nordic-Baltic Physics Olympiad (NBPhO). Mawhiba secretary-general, Dr. Saud Al-Mathami, said: “On Eid Al-Fitr, our students offered our dear nation the best gift and were able to represent it in the best way possible.” The NBPhO event, which was held remotely on May 7 to 8 due to the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, featured 116 contestants representing 11 countries. Eight students from the Kingdom participated in the Olympiad and won one gold, two silver, and two bronze medals taking the country’s record in international scientific competitions to 413 triumphs. Ahmed Al-Muhanna secured the gold, Alqasem Senegali and Hassan Mohammed Al-Lail gained silvers, and Sadeq Al-Abbad and Adel Al-Shammasi both returned home with a bronze medal. Al-Mathami thanked King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman for their ongoing support for the foundation’s work. “Mawhiba provides students with intensive training courses and programs within an integrated journey, where each student has access to more than 19 initiatives. “It supports and empowers students to take part in forging the future and be effective partners in achieving the Kingdom’s Vision 2030,” he added. Saudi Arabia’s participation in global science contests forms part of Mawhiba’s so-called “journey of gifted students” that includes several initiatives such as summer academic and research enrichment programs, apprenticeships, and post-school schemes that help students enroll in some of the world’s top universities and compete and win in international competitions. NBPhO allows major counties up to 20 participants.