Chennai will play host to Chess Olympiad 2022 from July 28 to August 14 where nearly 2,000 top Chess players from all over the globe are expected to participate. It is for the first time that India will host the Chess Olympiad. Incidentally, it will be only the second time in 30 years that this Olympiad will return to Asia.
The formality of handing over holding rights was gone through in New Delhi on Friday when the International Chess Federation (FIDE) President Mr. Arkady Dvorkovich did the rituals. India had secured the bid to host FIDE Chess Olympiad 2022 in Chennai earlier this year.
The President of All India Chess Federation (AICF) and the Organizing Committee Dr. Sanjay Kapoor, Tournament Director Mr. Bharat Singh Chauhan, Principal Secretary, Youth Welfare & Sports Development Department, Tamil Nadu, Ms. Apoorva, five-time World Chess Champion Grandmaster Viswanathan Anand, Chairman of Gujarat State Co-operative Banks Mr. Ajay Patel, and Member Secretary, Sports Development Authority of Tamil Nadu, Dr. R Anandakumar, were in attendance to receive the official hosting rights on behalf of India.
The Government of Tamil Nadu led by its Chief Minister Mr. M.K. Stalin supported the AICF efforts to bring the FIDE Chess Olympiad 2022 to India. The prestigious competition, which has been organized since 1927, will be held in India for the first time.
The FIDE President Arkady Dvorkovich said, “It’s an honour and privilege to be here and this is a historic moment as India will host the FIDE Chess Olympiad for the first time. The place which produces more Grandmasters than any other country truly deserves to host the FIDE Chess Olympiad. I can see a clear interest to host the best-ever FIDE Chess Olympiad in Chennai.”
Indian chess grandmaster and five-time World Chess Champion Viswanathan Anand, said, “I am delighted that this biggest event of the sport will take place in Chennai. I would like to thank the Tamil Nadu Government and Chief Minister Thiru M.K. Stalin and everyone else who has played a part in bringing the competition to India.”
The President of All India Chess Federation Dr. Sanjay Kapoor said, “Today I am overjoyed and as the President of AICF, I would like to share this joy with the people of India. The long wait is finally over. It’s a matter of pride for the entire country to host this event. Going by the number of participating nations, it will be the biggest sporting competition ever held in India.”
The Tournament Director Bharat Singh Chauhan said, “This is a historic moment for the All India Chess Federation (AICF) and all of us. We are expecting participants from 160-190 countries”.