FIDE President continues his working trip to India

FIDE President continues his working trip to India
Friday, 15 July 2011 07:29

The FIDE President continues his working trip to India which has turned out very rich and productive.

On July 13 it was announced that India nominated Chennai to host the Anand-Gelfand match.

On July 14 Kirsan Ilyumzhinov met with the Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports, Mr. Ajay Maken. "We discussed a great number of important issues related to chess development in India and around the world", the President noted. The planned bid from India to host the Women's Championship between Hou Yifan and Humpy Koneru and "Chess in Schools" programme were also discussed.

The Minister supported the programme and even took the initiative by proposing to organize the meeting with the Minister of Education. According to him there will be an opportunity to involve up to 300 million students not only from state schools but also private schools." Mr. Ajay Maken supported the idea of including chess in the Olympic Games programme, noted good management of the All India Chess Federation and spoke in favor of Indian students studying chess in Russian universities, considering the traditions and achievements of the Russian chess school.

At one point, the conversation turned in a more lighthearted direction, Kirsan Ilyumzhinov reported. Mr. Maken told him that most of his colleagues in Parliament enjoy spending leisure time at the chessboard. The FIDE President offered to organize the FIDE President Cup among the Members of Parliament.

The meeting was also attended by FIDE Vice President D.V. Sundar, FIDE Chief Executive Officer Geoffrey Borg, Director of the Moscow office of FIDE Berik Balgabaev and General Secretary of All India Chess Federation Bharat Singh.

Today Kirsan Ilyumzhinov met with the General Secretary of Indian Olympic Association Mr. Raja Singh who is also a member of the IOC and the General Secretary of the Olympic Council of Asia. Ilyumzhinov told about FIDE activities, his working trip to India, and the possible development of chess in most populous democracy in the world.

Mr. Raja Singh supported the idea of including chess in the programme of Olympic Games and noted that India has good medal prospects. He also shared some suggestions on further promotion of chess in Hindustan and the Asian continent.

At the meeting were present FIDE Vice President D.V. Sundar, FIDE Chief Executive Officer Geoffrey Borg, and Director of the Moscow office of FIDE Berik Balgabaev and General Secretary of All India Chess Federation Bharat Singh.

Chess in the Winter Olympics?

PH endorses chess' Olympic inclusion

July 9, 2011, 5:10pm

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippines became the first country to officially endorse the inclusion of chess in the 2014 Russia Winter Olympics following Saturday’s courtesy visit of FIDE President Kirsan Ilyumzhinov to Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) President Jose “Peping” Cojuangco.

Cojuangco was the first national Olympic committee leader to sign the endorsement letter addressed to the International Olympic Committee (IOC).

“Chess is a legitimate sport played internationally. Its inclusion (in the Olympics) is long overdue,” said Cojuangco. “It will also give us the opportunity to compete in the Winter Games again.”

The Philippines last sent a delegation in the quadrennial event in 1994.

National Chess Federation of the Philippines (NCFP) President Prospero “Butch” Pichay accompanied Ilyumzhinov in the courtesy visit. He lauded Cojuangco for supporting the initiative.

“We have several world-class chess players and they are mostly young,” said Pichay. “If the breaks go our way, we can even produce a medal in world competitions.”

He noted that the Philippines finished second only to China in the men’s chess team competition of the Asian Games.

“There is no better setting for us to showcase our talent than the Olympics,” Pichay said.

Ilyumzhinov is lobbying to add chess in the Olympic calendar for some time now. He is currently touring Asia to seek the support of IOC members from the region.

According to Ilyumzhinov, around 50 IOC members have already vouched their support for the inclusion of chess in the 2014 Winter Olympics.

The Philippines was the first to put it in writing.

The IOC has 116 voting members.

“We need to get a majority vote from the IOC members to make it happen,” said Ilyumzhinov. “So far, we’re getting positive response from most of them.”

Source: http://www.mb.com.ph