NTT DATA FOUNDATION has opened the registration period for a new edition of the International Technology Olympics, an online and free competition aimed at minors between 7 and 16 years old which aims to foster interest in programming, develop digital skills and contribute to reducing the digital divide from an early age.
In a context in which technology advances rapidly and transforms many daily tasks, skills such as analyzing, reasoning, structuring ideas and proposing solutions remain essential. In this sense, the International Technology Olympiads seek to foster critical thinking, creativity and perseverance in minors so that they are capable of detecting small problems in their environment and proposing creative solutions through technology.
Through this initiative, NTT DATA FOUNDATION, for the fifth consecutive year, aims to bring children and adolescents closer to technology as creators, not just as consumers. Throughout the competition, participants develop their digital skills, fundamental for their future, while they learn and program projects such as video games and animations.
Through a playful experience, young people face challenges that drive them to find solutions to real problems in their environment, with the support of NTT DATA volunteers who act as coaches for the Olympics.
Some geniuses who have won the Olympics
Victoria, a young Asturian woman with autism, conquered the Olympics with a video game that reflected the difficulties she faced in her daily life with the aim of making her reality known and helping her environment to understand and integrate her. The Aragonese Leo developed a video game to facilitate the consultation of schedules and access to public transport for elderly people, or the Madrilenian Carolina, who created a video game with the aim of integrating people with disabilities and preventing bullying at school.
A international competition
The Olympiads take place in five languages and are present in countries in Europe and Latin America. During the competition, participants will have to solve a challenge in which they will have to identify problems in their environment and propose solutions through technology.
Upon completion of the training and formation, winners will be selected by country and by category, who will subsequently compete in an international final scheduled for the month of September 2026. In the case of Spain, the national final will be held on June 2 and 3.
The winners, both nationally and internationally, will receive prizes such as drones or programmable robots, with the aim of contributing to the development of their digital skills. In addition, special recognitions will be awarded to the most involved teachers, highlighting their key role in supporting and motivating the participants.
To participate in the Olympiads it is not necessary to have previous knowledge in programming: it is enough to have a computer and an Internet connection. Registration is free and can be done at this link until March 23, 2026.
Training to trainers and parents
The Olympiads include training for educators to help them in their support of minors. The next information session will be on March 11 from 4:30 PM to 5:30 PM online, in which the content, platform, registration process, registration and monitoring, etc., will be explained in greater detail. After that session, there will be a masterclass, from 5:30 PM to 7:00 PM, with basic training in computational thinking and Scratch, the programming tool that minors will use in the Olympiads.
