Press release:
Norway submits bid for the 41st Chess Olympiad in 2014
Tromsø, April 30th 2010
The city of Tromsø, in cooperation with the Norwegian Chess Federation, has today submitted its official bid to be the host city of the 2014 Chess Olympiad. One of the world’s largest sporting events, the Olympiad hosts 1400 participants from 150 nations in a team competition spanning two weeks.
The Chess Olympiad is a biennal tournament to determine the best five-player open and women’s teams in the world. World Chess Federation FIDE organizes the event, selecting the host nation based on a bidding process. Tromsø’s application is the fruit of long-term preparations which began in 2006.
Government support
The Norwegian majority government has demonstrated its support by pledging financial backing of NOK 70 million/ € 8,8 million, granted by the Norwegian Minister of Sports and Culture. The bid has a total budget of NOK 119.3 million (€ 14,912,500) which will be financed through a combination of governmental support, regional funding and marketing income. The budget is structured according to a template for IOC bidding cities.
Organizational background
A bidding organizing committee formed of Olympic and chess expertise has developed the proposal. Mr. Henrik Andenæs, a business professional and former managing director of the Lillehammer Olympic Organizing Committee (17th Winter Olympics 1994) is chairman, Norwegian Chess Federation President Mr. Jøran Aulin-Jansson is vice-chairman, and attorney at law Mr. Morten Sand, a former FIDE Vice President and legal advisor, is the company’s international counsel.
Tromsø beckons
“Being elected the host 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 expert and experienced organizing skills in a friendly and exciting environment. If we win the bid, we guarantee a memorable event that will please both participants and the local population. A comprehensive cultural program will be an integrated part of a Chess Olympiad in the City of Tromsø,” the mayor concludes.
With 75,000 inhabitants Tromsø has all the amenities of “a small large city”. Tromsø has a relatively mild climate, and is just a three-hour flight away from London and Frankfurt, and less than two hours by air from the Norwegian capital, Oslo. Tromsø has a very active chess community and hosts an annual international festival, the Arctic Chess Challenge, in August every year.
For further information and printout of the Norwegian application please go to our website: www.tromso2014.no
For any questions please contact:
Mr. Henrik Andenæs, Chairman, +4795143830, henrik.andenas@dht.no
Mr. Jøran Aulin Jansson, Deputy Chairman and President of the Norwegian Chess federation, +4791332242, jj@sci-group.net
Mr. Morten Sand, International advisor, +4790561288, morten@advokat-sand.no
Tromsø/Oslo, 30.4.2010
That’s a lot of money to host an Olympiad.