PM Modi to inaugurate the World’s biggest Chess Olympiad in Tamil Nadu today
The 44th International Chess Olympiad will be held in Mamallapuram, 50 kilometres from Chennai, from July 28 to August 10. PM Modi and Chief Minister M K Stalin will attend the grand inaugural ceremony
The 44th International Chess Olympiad, to be held at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Chennai, will be inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday. It is scheduled to take place from July 28 to August 10 in Mamallapuram’s Poonjeri village.
On July 22, Minister of Environment – Climate Change, Youth Welfare and Sports Siva V Meyyanathan tweeted that a review meeting was held with officials to discuss the event’s arrangements, as directed by the state’s CM M K Stalin.
The Olympiad was supposed to be held in Russia, but due to the ongoing Russian-Ukraine conflict, the International Chess Federation (FIDE) began looking for new bidders. India came out on top among other countries, earning the right to host the high-profile event for the first time. The Union Government granted Tamil Nadu the hosting rights of the world’s largest chess tournament.
The state government has set aside Rs 92 crore for the event, which is expected to draw over 2,000 participants from 187 countries around the world, according to Chief Minister M K Stalin. On June 19, Prime Minister Modi launched the first-ever torch relay for the Chess Olympiad. The torch was supposed to be carried through 75 cities before arriving in Mamallapuram.
In honour of the opening day of the Olympiad, the Tamil Nadu government has also declared a holiday for schools, colleges, and other non-essential government offices in four districts on Thursday, July 28.
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Stalin presided over a meeting at the venue a few weeks ago to review the preparations for the event. He directed the officers to establish a 24-hour control room to assist participants, guests, and the general public, as well as to ensure that the accommodation and other facilities, such as parking, water and power supply, road facilities, and so on, are taken care of. The authorities have been directed to publicise the event widely in all districts.
Modi stated that he was excited to be in the city for the event’s inauguration.
“This is a special tournament and it is our honour that it is being held in India, that too in Tamil Nadu, which has a glorious association with chess,” Prime Minister Narendra Modi tweeted.
In both the Open and Women’s events, three Indian teams will compete. The legendary Viswanathan Anand will not play but will serve as a mentor to the players.
The Olympiad has captured the imagination of chess fans and the general public alike, and the Tamil Nadu government has gone to great lengths to promote the main event.
Cutouts of ‘Thambi,’ the Olympiad mascot—a knight dressed in traditional Tamil attire—could be seen around the city and near the venue in Mamallapuram as the state government and the All-India Chess Federation (AICF) went on a promotion spree.
Following Russia’s earlier invasion of neighbouring Ukraine, the Olympiad was relocated to India, with Chennai chosen as the host city.
Players such as Anand believe that the city hosting the event will have a significant impact on chess in Tamil Nadu