Tromsø, Norway, bids for the Olympiad in 2014

Press release

Tromsø, Norway, bids for the Chess Olympiad in 2014

The city of Tromsø, backed by the Norwegian Chess Federation, is committed to become the host city for the 41st Chess Olympiad in 2014.

During the Chess Olympiad in Dresden 12-25 November 2008, Tromsø will be present and launch its candidacy. The bidding committee, Chess Tromsø 2014, will operate an information stand at the playing arena, and will host a launch event at Hotel Maritim in the evening of November 22.

With its 75.000 inhabitants, including 10.000 university students, Tromsø has all the amenities of “a small large city”. Chess players around the world will discover a friendly and open-minded population with hotels of excellent international standard, an attractive restaurant scene and a diversity of cultural activities. Tromsø has a very active chess environment, and hosts an annual international Chess festival, Arctic Chess Challenge, in August every year. The tournament will be further upgraded in the coming years in order to prepare for the potential Olympiad in 2014.

“Being elected as the host city of the Chess Olympiad in 2014 is a major ambition for our city”, says Tromsø mayor Arild Hausberg. “We promise the chess world a unique experience combining competent and experienced organizing skills in a friendly and exciting environment. And the event, if we succeed in winning the bid, will engage the whole city to the pleasure of the participants and the population. A comprehensive cultural program will be an integrated part of a Chess Olympiad in Tromsø”, concludes the mayor.

The preparation for the bid is well under way, and the bidding committee has been actively engaged for most of 2008. Active working relations with the Norwegian government will secure sufficient support. The bidding committee brings a committee of Olympic and chess expertise. Its chairman is the former managing director of the Lillehammer Olympic Organizing Committee, (17th Winter Olympics 1994), Mr. Henrik Andenæs, a business professional, working alongside the President of the Norwegian Chess Federation, Mr. Jøran Aulin Jansson, as vice chairman. General Manager is Mr. Børge Johan Robertsen.

What makes Tromsø exceptional is its magnificent nature. Located north of the Arctic Circle, Tromsø is blessed with midnight sun all through the summer, and has more polar Northern lights, “Aurora Borealis”, than anywhere else in the world. Being referred to as the entry-port to the Arctic, Tromsø still has a relatively mild climate, and lies a limited 3 hours flight away from London and Frankfurt, and less than 2 hours flight from the Norwegian capital, Oslo. This will give easy access to chess participants from all over the world.

Please contact:

Henrik Andenæs, chairman, +4795143830, henrik.andenas@dht.no
Jøran Aulin Jansson, vice chairman, +4791332242, jj@sci-group.net
Børge Johan Robertsen, general manager, +4791647329,
borge.johan.robertsen@tromso.kommune.no
-for any questions.

Tromsø, November 12, 2008