The 64 squares could merge with five rings soon

By P. K. Ajith Kumar

KOZHIKODE, MAY 25. The world chess governing body, FIDE, is hoping that the International Olympic Committee would make chess an Olympic discipline this year itself. Looking at the honest efforts of FIDE towards that goal and the feedback from the IOC, the optimism does not seem misplaced.

FIDE president Kirsan Ilyumzhinov presented a strong case for the inclusion of chess in the Olympic programme at the IOC executive board meeting earlier this month and a Lausanne- based independent council has certified FIDE's implementation of the Olympic Movement Anti-Doping Code, which is a mandatory requirement for Olympic status.

``We are confident that the IOC would take a decision to include chess in the Olympic programme at its general meeting to be held in September,'' FIDE vice-president Mr. P. T. Ummer Koya told The Hindu here on Friday. ``And when it does, it will be a dream come true for the chess fraternity across the world.''

In his address at the IOC meeting, a copy of which was made available to The Hindu, Ilyumzhinov pointed out that chess met all the requirements to be recognised as an Olympic sport. ``Under Chapter 5, Article 52, section 1.1.1 of the Olympic Charter, there is a requirement that chess must be practised as a sport by men it in atleast 75 countries and four continents,'' Kirsan said in his speech. ``Section 1.1.2 also requires that chess must be practised as a sport by women in at least 25 countries and three continents. We are pleased to report that as of today, chess is practised as a sport by both men and women in 160 member countries of FIDE and all the main continents of Europe, the Americas, Asia and Africa.'' Kirsan also informed that the FIDE Medical Commission worked closely with the IOC Medical Commission in establishing the rules for the application of the IOC Anti-Doping Code testing along the lines of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) as they apply to chess. ``These rules have been firmly entrenched in the FIDE Statutes and are now applied in our competitions by the FIDE Medical Commission,'' he said.

In fact, Carrard, Paschoud, Heim & Associates, an independent counsel based at Lausanne, reported to the Department of Sports and Relations, International Olympic Committee, on May 11 that FIDE had duly and properly implemented the Olympic Movement Anti- Doping Code with the applicable provisions of its statutes and regulations. They further certified that FIDE had taken the necessary decisions for the implementation of an unannounced testing programme, including out-of-competition controls.

He further argued that as of 1999, 82 National Olympic Committees have recognised their National Chess Federations as members or associated members and that chess has been included in the programme of various multi-discipline continental meets.

Growing popularity

Kirsan also explained about the increasing popularity of chess around the world. ``There are seven million registered active players and over 600 million people in the world who are chess players, playing at varying competitive levels from the base to the top,'' he said. He pointed out that there were more than 3000 registered annual tournaments, rated by FIDE.

The president rested his case with FIDE's belief that ``the inclusion of chess in the Olympic Games programme will serve as the very model for the upliftment of the spirit of the Games as propagated by the late Pierre de Coubertin.''

FIDE has been making efforts to make chess an Olympic discipline since 1994. Chess was introduced as an exhibition sport at the Sydney Olympics last year, featuring a match between India's Viswanathan Anand, who then went on to win the World championship, and Alexei Shirov of Spain, who challenged Anand in the World championship final in Teheran last December.

Chess, no doubt, would get a tremendous boost if it is recognised as an Olympic discipline. Even countries, which are traditionally not very enthusiastic about the game, like the United States for instance, will take it seriously because an Olympic medal in any discipline is worth more than its weight in gold (or silver or bronze). As the game requires little infrastructure, any country could take it up.

From an Indian point of view too, chess at the Olympics is most welcome. India, which is not just about Anand when it comes to success at international chess competitions, would be among the medal contenders.

But ironically, India is not among the hundred-odd countries whose chess federations are affiliated to their National Olympic Committees. ``It is unfortunate that the AICF is yet to be affiliated to the Indian Olympic Association, although we had submitted our application in 1994,'' said Mr. Ummer Koya. ``But we are hopeful, especially after my meeting with the IOA president Suresh Kalmadi at the Sydney Olympics.''

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