Breaking News: Tromsø wins 2014 Chess Olympiad bid!
Norway’s campaign was officially launched during the 2008 Dresden Chess Olympiad where Tromsø 2014 had a large stand, which presented the Norwegian bid with both videos and brochures, and an official reception with more than 300 guests attending.
Our aim was to make the City of Tromsø known to the international chess community. This work had really started earlier with the annual Arctic Chess Challenge tournaments organized by the Tromsø Chess Club in cooperation with Tromsø 2014.
After Dresden the Norwegian Tromsø 2014 campaign has worked steadily and methodically to promote Tromsø as a serious contender to the 2014 Chess Olympiad. A lot of resources have been put in and the major breakthrough was when the Norwegian Parliament granted 11,8 million USD to the Olympiad.
It has been very important for our campaign to make our presence felt in the chess world among the decision makers of the Olympiads.
During this year, 2010, we have also done a lot of traveling with the purpose to promote our candidacy. We believe it has been important to talk directly to important FIDE representatives. By doing this we have managed to present our bid directly to the FIDE President, to former World Champion Anatoly Karpov, to FIDE Continental Presidents etc.
Today, the hard work of the Tromsø group has paid off big time in Khanty-Mansiysk. Tromsø, Norway has been selected as the site for the 2014 World Chess Olympiad (95-47 vote margin)!
I have personally been to this beautiful city and had an extensive tour of the magnificent island. I can absolutely say that the participants of the 2014 Chess Olympiad will be in for a treat! I am looking forward to working with my friends in Norway for the next four years and to help any way I can to make 2014 the best Chess Olympiad ever!
Congratulations Tromsø!
Congratulations! Go Norway!
Magnus needs to practice for this!
Who is that good looking guy standing next to you Susan?
Did you ask him if he knows how to play chess?