Chess in the Winter Olympics?

Kirsan Ilyumzhinov hopes chess to be included in winter Olympic Games program

August 9, 2011 – 19:11 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net – President of FIDE Kirsan Ilyumzhinov offered to carry out chess demonstration games during winter Olympics in Sochi. He considers that presentation of chess at the Games 2014 will help engage this sport in the program of winter Olympic Games.

“I addressed President of Russia Dmitry Medvedev to support our application to International Olympic Committee and to include chess as demo sport in the program of Olympic Games in Sochi,” sport-express.ru cites Ilyumzhinov as saying.

According to him, FIDE wants chess to become a winter Olympic game, as summer program is too diverse. FIDE comprises 172 countries and the organization plans to agree with at least 150 Olympic committees, so that they discuss this offer with International Olympic Committee.

Winter Olympic Games are those played on ice or snow. It is necessary to add a phrase ‘intellectual games’ so that chess could be entered in the winter games program, according to FIDE head. Another variant is to use ice chess.

“Many companies are ready to make plastic chess with ice inside. The pieces can be colored black and white. I am 90% confident that chess will be played during winter Olympics in near future,” Ilyumzhinov said.

Source: http://www.panarmenian.net