PM Narendra Modi declared the FIDE Chess Olympiad to be ‘Open’ from the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium on Thursday. He proclaimed “Let the Games begin” to be the first-time ever organized chess Olympiad in the country.
- PM Modi proclaimed “Let the Games begin” to the first-time ever organized chess Olympiad in the country.
- It will also be coming to Asia for the first time in three decades.
The prestigious event also saw the presence of Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin, five-times grandmaster Vishwanathan Anand along with several others.
The Olympiad torch was handed from world chess champion Anand to PM Modi and Stalin and then to Young Grandmaster R Praggnanandhaa. After the passing of the torch to several others, the torch was then put in Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Chennai.
The FIDE Chess Olympiad begins on February 28 and will prolong till August 10.
PM Modi on Sports
Addressing and encouraging the players, Modi said in Sports there are no losers, only winners or future winners.
Throwing light on various merits of Sports, “Sports is beautiful because it has inherent power to unite. Sports bring people and societies closer. Sports nurture a spirit of teamwork,” he said.
Asserts Chess origins in India
“Chess Olympiad is hosted by India at a special time in its history, which marks 75 years of freedom from colonial rule”, he added.
For the very first time, this Olympiad is being played in India which is also the home of chess. This is indeed special indicating the origins of Chess in India.
It will also be coming to Asia for the first time in three decades.
PM Modi wore a dhoti and shawl along with a chessboard design border for the event. M K Stalin was spotted in a Silk-like Yellow shirt, dhoti, and shawl.
Programs organized for the event
On his route from the road to the venue, PM was warmly welcomed and accompanied by performances by musicians and percussionists.
Rostrum Decoration
The Nehru Stadium was decorated with classy lighting. This classy lighting exhibited multiple colors throughout.
In the foreground were a grand big chessboard and the flags of joining countries. The rostrum was adorned with the King-sized dazzling colored pieces of the king, queen, bishop, knight, rook, and pawns.
Dance-Song
A Special dance song was executed. “Vanakkam Chennai, Vanakkam Chess”, was played at the event. An audio-visual on the theme of sand-sculpting captured the game of chess to be played in Tamil Nadu’s historic seaport town of Mamallapuram.
All the eight forms of Indian classical dance, Kathak, Odissi, Kuchupudi, Kathakali, Mohiniyattam, Manipuri, Sattriya, and Bharatanatyam were performed.
Orchestra
The Orchestra present there played several kinds of music including heart-throbbing songs like Jai-Ho and national song Vande-Matram.
Chennai-based musician Lydia Nadhaswaram also gave the musical treat at the opening ceremony.
With this, teams from several countries were warmly welcomed.
World’s biggest team chess championship
The world’s biggest team chess championship, featuring players from 187 countries, will transpire at Hotel Four Points by Sheraton, Mamallapuram. This is the maiden chess championship for India, ever since it kick-started.
This championship was earlier organized to be held in Russia. However, in the wake of the Russian-Ukraine war, it was shifted to India from Moscow.
On the day, when the event began FIDE anthem was played and a pledge was taken by the participants.
The chess championship saw the involvement of teams from dozens of countries including Japan, China, Australia, Germany, Italy, South Africa, Austria, Albania, Algeria, Angola, Argentina, and Barbados. They all were welcomed to applause in the stadium.
