FIDE President in Zambia, Latin America, and the Carribean

Working visits of the FIDE President Kirsan Ilyumzhinov

On the 6th of July the FIDE President, Head of Republic of Kalmykia Kirsan Ilyumzhinov arrived in Lusaka, the capital of Zambia, to participate in Administrators seminar for the leaders of African Chess Federations. The main topics of the seminar was the organisation and management of National Federations in modern conditions, trainers' and arbiters' master-classes, exchange of experience of introducing chess in schools, presentations of the most successful projects in chess propaganda in the African continent. The representatives of more than 20 countries took part in this seminar and shall be discussing the most urgent issues of chess development during a period of three days, while getting acquainted with the best models of chess administration of the latest period.

Kirsan Ilyumzhinov addressed the guests of the seminar, participated in the presentation that was prepared and submitted by FIDE Commercial Director Mr. Geoffrey Borg, discussed with the leaders of African Chess Federations a number of the most urgent issues of chess development in the African continent.

On the 7th of July FIDE President, Head of Republic of Kalmykia Kirsan Ilyumzhinov continued his visit to Zambia. He held the working meetings with the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Russian Federation to Zambia, Mr. Boris Malakhov, the embassy staff, and the permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Sport, Youth and Child Development, Mr. Teddy Mulonga. Kirsan Ilyumzhinov also spoke at the Administrators seminar for the leaders of African Chess Federations, opened simultaneous game which was continued by GM Zurab Azmaiparashvili. As part of this forum, FIDE President met and discussed the numerous issues of chess development in the African continent with the leaders of chess federations of Malawi, Botswana, Seychelles Islands, Madagascar, Sao Tome and Principe, Rwanda, Burundi, etc.

FIDE President in the center and (from left to right) the Vice-Chairman of Ghana Chess Federation Edward Nii Lamptey THOMPSON, President of Turkish Chess Federation Ali Nihat YAZICI, FIDE Vice-President Lewis NCUBE, FIDE Commercial Director Geoffrey BORG

Summing up the working visit of the FIDE President to Africa, we can describe it as very constructive and important for development of chess in this continent. After meeting with the Zambian Sports Minister it was decided that since new school year chess shall be introduced in Zambian schools as a facultative subject. At the meeting with 18 leaders of the Chess Federations a great number of important issues were discussed and many important decisions were taken: preparation of trainers and arbiters, participation of the teams in the 2010 Khanty-Mansiysk Olympiad. A sensational idea was expressed – for the first time in the history to organize in 2016 the first Chess Olympiad in Africa. Ilyumzhinov said: “to date we have 33 African countries as FIDE members. Our task is for the rest 20 to join FIDE in the nearest future”.

On the 9th of July FIDE President, Head of Republic of Kalmykia Kirsan Ilyumzhinov arrived in La Paz, capital of Bolivia. At the meeting with the President of Bolivian Chess Federation Mr. Alfonso Ferrufino a conversation on chess development in this mountainous country was held. Bolivia is often called Latin Tibet.

Mr. Ferrufino said that in recent months he had to withstand intense pressure in the press from Mr. Richard Kohn, who insisted that Bolivia officially supported Anatoly Karpov (The latter was recently in Peru, pre-election visit).

Mr. Ferrufino spoke about the plans and problems of Bolivian CF. He noted that the state devotes to chess only 15,000 dollars per year. At the same time Chess in Schools programme is ready to be launched and at this moment it is being coordinated in the ministry of Education. To implement this programme with help of FIDE, BCF needs not material, but educational and methodological assistance. Ilyumzhinov, in his turn, shared the ideas of chess development in Latin American continent. He spoke about the positive experience of Chess in Schools programme in Republic of Kalmykia, and expressed willingness to provide BCF with technical and methodological assistance.

Form left to right: Russian Consul Ilya Nesterov, FIDE President Kirsan Ilyumzhinov, President of Bolivian Chess Federation Alfonso Ferrufino Hurtado, Continental President for Americas Jorge Vega

On the 10th of July the FIDE President, Head of the Republic of Kalmykia arrived on a working visit to Peru. In the Lima international airport he was welcomed by numerous chess aficionados led by the President of the National Federation President Dr. Milton Iturri and Vice Governor of the Callao province Mrs. Yaneth Tapua Zamudio. Immediately after the working meeting took place where the parties with satisfaction noted the successful points of the chess development in the country. It was underlined that at the last World Youth Championships in Turkey in 2009 the Peru team won two gold medals, which is the same achievement with the team of Russia.

The same day Kirsan Ilyumzhinov received a diploma of the Doctor of Honours of the Norbert Wiener University from the rector of the University, Mr. Cezar Lip Licham. Following the tradition, the new Doctor delivered his lecture.

The other meeting of the FIDE President was with the President of the Peru Sports Institute Mr. Arturo Woodman, where possible ways of further cooperation between FIDE and the country were discussed. The chief official of the Peruvian sport has advised, in respect of the Chess in Schools programme launching, to start with a pilot programme in a certain school, considering their great number in the country (more than 70, 000 ) and difficulties in reaching some of the schools.

The ways of specific cooperation between FIDE and Bolivia , as well as the soonest launching of Chess in Scools programme were discussed at the meeting with Adviser to the Minister of Health and Sports, Mr. Rodrigo Solomon. The latter expressed the hope that Bolivian President Mr. Evo Morales will issue a decree on Chess in Schools programme as soon as it will be finally ready and coordinated with the Ministry of Education.

The meeting was attended by the Continental President for Americas Mr. Jorge Vega and Consul of Russian Embassy in Bolivia, Mr. Ilya Nesterov. The meeting was followed by press conference, the participants of which responded to numerous questions. After the press conference Kirsan Ilyumzhinov met with local chess players, including members of Bolivian national team.

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