PM Modi launches historic torch relay for 44th Chess Olympiad

Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched the historic torch relay for the 44th Chess Olympiad at Indira Gandhi Stadium in New Delhi on Sunday. This year, for the very first time, International Chess Federation, FIDE, has instituted the Chess Olympiad Torch, a part of the Olympic tradition. India is the first country to have the Chess Olympiad Torch Relay. FIDE President Arkady Dvorkovich handed over the torch to  Modi, who in turn handed it over to Grandmaster Vishwanathan Anand. This torch will be taken to 75 cities in a span of 40 days before the final culmination at Mahabalipuram near Chennai. At every location, chess grandmasters of the state will receive the torch. The 44th Chess Olympiad will be held in Chennai from 28th July to 10th August 2022.  
Speaking on the occasion, Prime Minister Modi said, Chess teaches everyone that only those people acheive real success who are far-sighted in their planning. He said, the ancestors of the country invented the games like Chaturanga and Chess for the analytical development of the brain. He said, Chess has spread to many countries of the world from India and has become very popular today. Modi said, chess is being used in schools as a tool for education for young people. He said, in the last eight years, India has improved its performance in Chess. Prime Minister said, modern sports infrastructure is being built in different states and districts of the country. He said, New India's youth is excelling in every sport and they are making records.

On the occasion, Youth Affairs and Sports Minister Anurag Thakur said, the land where Chess originated is getting the opportunity for the first time to organize the Chess Olympiad. Thakur said, more than two thousand player from 188 countries will participate in the Chess Olympiad. He said, no torch relay had happened in Chess Olympiad till now but International Chess Federation took the decision to do a torch relay for the first time from India. He said that from know, the torch relay for the Chess Olympiad will always start from India.

India, who made its debut at the event in 1956 Moscow (27th position), has a gold medal (joint winners with Russia in 2020) and two bronze medals (2021, 2014) from the Chess Olympiad. While the 2020 and 2021 editions were held virtually owing to the Covid 19 pandemic, the 2022 edition will be the first over-the-board Chess Olympiad being held since 2018 in Georgia. India is hosting the prestigious Chess Olympiad for the first time and in the process, Asia gets to host the event after a gap of 30 years. Philippines last hosted it from Asia in 1992. Being the host, India is set to field 20 players – their biggest ever contingent – at the 44th FIDE Chess Olympiad. India is entitled to field 2 teams each in the Open and Women’s category. Over 2000 participants will be representing at the event from 188 countries.