25.07.2015

Ilyumzhinov reveals «Winter» chess

The FIDE President, Kirsan Ilyumzhinov reveals the prospect of chess being played as a sport at the Olympic Games in PyeongChang, reports Sovsport.ru.
«The IOC President, Thomas Bach suggested that we work with the city's organisers who have the privilege of including new types of sports. For several months we have been negotiating with PyeongChang. The Olympic Games Organizing Committee 2018 has now approved the inclusion of chess in its programme. I think it will be rapid chess and blitz tournaments.
In the end, athletes from other sports will come and watch and we shall interest all representatives of the Olympic Winter sports in chess,» said Ilyumzhinov.

As previously mentioned, Kirsan Ilyumzhinov (the sixth FIDE President) has headed the International Chess Federation since 1995. From its predecessors, only the first and second heads of the Organization, the Dutchman, Alexander Rueb (1924-1949) and Swede, Folke Rogard (1949-1970) have held this post for longer.