Tromsø could get Chess Olympiad

Tromsø could get Chess Olympiad
2009-11-30

A delegation from the northern Norwegian city of Tromsø visited the Chess World Cup in Khanty-Mansyisk, Western Siberia, in order to promote Tromsø´s bid to host the 2014 Chess Olympiad.

Next year the Chess Olympiad will be arranged in Khanty-Mansyisk in Russia and at the same time a decision will be made by the FIDE-congress who will be the host of the 2014 Chess Olympiad.

It was at last year’s 2008 Dresden Chess Olympiad, Tromsø announced its intention to bid for the 2014 Chess Olympiad.

The city of Tromsø in Northern Norway decided a couple of years ago to bid for not only one, but two Olympic events, the 2014 Chess Olympiad, and the 2018 Winter Olympic Games. After competitions in Norway, Tromsø was chosen candidate for both these events.

Tromsø beat the capital Oslo and the city of Trondheim to be the national candidate for the 2018 Winter Olympic Games, and defeated Lillehammer, Oslo and Vestfold to run for the 2014 Chess Olympiad.

Last October the board of the Norwegian Olympic and Paralympic Committee and Confederation of Sports made a controversial decision to withdraw the application for a state guarantee for the 2018 Games to the Norwegian government, as reported by BarentsObserver.

They argued that it would be to costly to organize the Winter Olympic Games in Tromsø. The decision spurred a heated debate in Norway and especially in Northern Norway.

But Tromsø has definitely not given up its ambitions to become an Olympic City.

A delegation consisting of Mr. Børge Robertsen, General Director of Tromsø 2014, Mr. Morten Sand, Adviser to the Tromsø 2014, and Mr. Jan Eirik Johnsen, Political Adviser to the Mayor of Tromsø, visited the Chess World Cup in Khanty-Mansiysk. The aim of the visit was to establish contacts, demonstrate the commitment of the Tromsø candidature and to learn from the World Cup organizers in Khanty-Mansiysk, a press-release from Tromsø 2014 stated.

The delegation met informally with representatives of FIDE, the Vice-Prime Minister of the Russian Federation, Mr. Alexander Zhukov and the Governor of the Khanty-Mansiysk, Mr. Alexander Filipenko.

In May this year Tromsø applied to the Norwegian Government for financial support to the 2014 Chess Olympiad. A decision is expected before the New Year, as Tromsø has to deliver its final bid to the World Chess Federation – FIDE at the end of March next year.

Source: http://www.barentsobserver.com