Anurag Singh Thakur, the respected Union Minister for Youth Affairs and Sports, handed over the Chess Olympiad Torch to Budapest, Hungary, the designated host for the 45th edition of the Chess Olympiad.
Commencing with a ceremony at Delhi’s Indira Gandhi Stadium on June 19, 2022, the 1st Chess Olympiad Torch Relay was inaugurated by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi.
The torch handover occurred at Delhi’s Major Dhyanchand National Stadium, featuring the minister and Indian Grand Master Vishwanathan Anand engaging in a friendly chess match against FIDE President Arkady Dvorkovich and Hungarian Grand Master Judit Polgár. Following the game, the Olympiad torch was passed on to the FIDE President and Budapest.
Expressing his delight, the Honorable Minister stated, “I am delighted that what we decided a few years back (to have Chess Olympiad Torch Relay) actually happened, and that I am here at the handoff ceremony of the Torch for the Chess Olympiad.”
He further remarked, “Chess is an intellectual legacy that India probably offers to the world, and it is not merely a sport, but a reflection of strategic depth and philosophical wisdom. The elegant sport not only sharpens the mind but also teaches invaluable lessons of patience and resilience and takes one onto the path of intellectual pursuit of strategic mastery.”
The 44th edition of the Chess Olympiad occurred in Chennai in 2022, featuring participation from more than 2500 players and 7000 individuals. The forthcoming FIDE Chess Olympiad is slated to take place in Budapest, Hungary, this year, following the official announcement earlier in the year.
