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18 December 2015, 16:13

Belarus to support FIDE's initiative to include chess on Winter Olympics program

MINSK, 18 December (BelTA) – The National Olympic Committee (NOC) of Belarus has promised to support the World Chess Federation (FIDE) in its camapign to include chess in the program of Winter Olympic Games. The matter was discussed during the meeting between Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko and FIDE President Kirsan Ilyumzhinov in Minsk on 18 December, BelTA has learned.

Kirsan Ilyumzhinov noted that FIDE is working hard to get chess into Winter Olympics. He noted that over a hundred National Olympic Committees have already supported the idea. He also said that an agreement was reached to include chess in the program of the 2018 Winter Olympics in South Korea as a cultural event. “We will convince heads of National Olympic Committees that chess should make part of the program of Winter Olympics,” he stressed.

The parties also discussed the construction of a new administrative complex in Minsk that will house a FIDE Office and the Belarus Chess Federation.

Kirsan Ilyumzhinov thanked the Belarusian side and personally Alexander Lukashenko for the organization of the FIDE European Rapid and Blitz Championships in Minsk which is running on 18-20 December. The event in Minsk has drawn about 1,000 players from 31 countries. Among them are many players from the world's top 100, participants and finalists of the European and world championships, world cups.

The FIDE President has invited Alexander Lukashenko to attend the games of the championships.

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