Kirsan Ilyumzhinov announces his FIDE presidential ticket

Kirsan Ilyumzhinov announces his FIDE presidential ticket
One world, one vision

Kirsan Ilyumzhinov has announced his FIDE Presidential ticket for the coming elections during the Chess Olympiad in Khanty Mansiysk. It includes Georgios Makropoulos as Deputy President, Ignatius Leong as General Secretary, Nigel Freeman as Treasurer, while the Vice Presidents will be Beatriz Marinello and Lewis Ncube. Read on for detailed announcement by FIDE President Kirsan Ilyumzhinov.

Official site of the campaign: One world, one vision

Dear Chess Friends,

I am pleased to announce our electoral ticket for the upcoming FIDE elections in Khanty-Mansiysk.

In the years of my presidency, our team has achieved certain important accomplishments which I feel today that, by the way our opponents promote their election campaign, are not only downplayed but their existence is also endangered. The principles which have been our guide, with the support of all national federations, will continue to be the ones I will serve and protect in the new term as well

Democratic procedures and transparency in decision making

FIDE is the only international federation which holds open sessions of all its meetings: its General Assemblies, Executive Boards and even its Presidential Board meetings. All its decisions are published on the official website of FIDE.

The One Country – One Vote principle which I will not permit to be changed

Our team is against any proposals which try to undermine the rights of smaller federations to the benefit of a few stronger ones.

The unity of the chess world, achieved during my presidency, is now in danger

We will fight against any ideas which promote the division of federations and chess players. I have been the President of our whole chess family and I will continue to work with everyone who shares our love for this game.

Transparency on the financials of FIDE

During the years of my presidency, clean FIDE accounts are a fact which our national federations can be proud of. I will not allow the denigration of FIDE’s financial image. Today, FIDE is an independent, financially healthy organisation and we will strive for its further prosperity. We will continue to retain the worldwide recognized firm of Ernst & Young as our Auditor and as always, we will support the election for two of the three positions of the Verification Committee to members of federations who are not backing our ticket.

Recognition by the International Olympic Committee

Since 1999 chess has achieved full recognition as a sport by the International Olympic Committee (IOC). This success came partly as a result of the very well organised World Championship Match 1998 between Karpov and Anand in the Olympic Museum of Lausanne.
The unity of the chess world, the fact that today we have an undisputed World Champion, the respect in democratic procedures within FIDE, the transparency in our decisions and our financials are all important factors which will help us in the future to include our sport in the Olympic Program.

All the above achievements are now brutally attacked by our opponents who are trying to distort the true image of FIDE in a desperate attempt to secure some votes.

I invite all national federations to join me and my team, not only in order to win the next elections but also to cure and restore, immediately afterwards, what Anatoly Karpov today is damaging with his campaign.

My electoral ticket will consist of the following candidates:

President: Kirsan Ilyumzhinov

President of Kalmykian Republic

FIDE President since 1995

Deputy President: Georgios Makropoulos

President of Greek Chess Federation

FIDE Deputy President since 1996

General Secretary: Ignatius Leong

President of Singapore Chess Federation

FIDE General Secretary since 2005

Treasurer: Nigel Freeman

President of Bermuda Chess Federation

FIDE Treasurer since 2006

Vice-President: Beatriz Marinello

Former President of the US Chess Federation

Member of FIDE Verification Commission since 2006

Vice-President: Lewis Ncube

Former President of Zambia Chess Federation

FIDE Vice-President since 2006

Gens Una Sumus!

Kirsan Ilyumzhinov, FIDE President