44th Chess Olympiad, Moscow
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44th Chess Olympiad, Moscow
This event is scheduled for 26th July until 8th August 2022
The current political and security situation does not bode well.
Does the ECF still plan to enter a team?
The current political and security situation does not bode well.
Does the ECF still plan to enter a team?
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Re: 44th Chess Olympiad, Moscow
I suspect the stance at the moment will be that the ECF will follow government advice. Contact with Russia hasn't been banned as yet. UEFA are moving the Champions League final because this is relatively straightforward, but the annexation of the Crimea didn't prevent Russia being permitted to host the football World Cup, so I suspect where your redlines might be is far from clear-cut. There is also a trend to boycott at dignitary level but allow continuation of the 'sport'.
If ECF members were unhappy about fielding a team, would a formal motion to Council be binding?
If ECF members were unhappy about fielding a team, would a formal motion to Council be binding?
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Re: 44th Chess Olympiad, Moscow
It could always go ahead and players choose to make a political statement anyway (as four decades ago with the "GULKO" jumpers)
"Set up your attacks so that when the fire is out, it isn't out!" (H N Pillsbury)
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Re: 44th Chess Olympiad, Moscow
I wasn't aware of this historic incident of protest, but Gulko's efforts to emigrate are covered in a Chessbase article that I found marking his 75th birthday. Who participated in the protest? Curious that both the football World Cup and the Olympiad took place in Argentina. Was the Dirty War not grubby enough?
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Re: 44th Chess Olympiad, Moscow
I think it is too soon to form any view.John Foley wrote: ↑Tue Feb 22, 2022 2:24 pmThis event is scheduled for 26th July until 8th August 2022
The current political and security situation does not bode well.
Does the ECF still plan to enter a team?
If Russian troops advance from the rebel held areas of the Donbass to those parts currently still under Ukrainian control, then a further red line will have been crossed.
In that situation I would not expect the Olympiad to go ahead, at least not in Moscow. I think a lot of teams would have difficulty getting there, even if they were willing to play.
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Re: 44th Chess Olympiad, Moscow
I think it is well established that you send teams to international sporting events in countries whose governments treat their own people abominably. Otherwise you would never go anywhere. Invading another country is different.J T Melsom wrote: ↑Tue Feb 22, 2022 3:50 pmCurious that both the football World Cup and the Olympiad took place in Argentina. Was the Dirty War not grubby enough?
If you want a picture of the future, imagine a QR code stamped on a human face — forever.
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Re: 44th Chess Olympiad, Moscow
David
I suspect your precisely defined red line is the critical one, as are the practical consequences. That doesn't prevent a more robust stance being taken. I'm not sure invading a sovereign state is really compatible with extending the arm of international friendship that is usually part and parcel of international sporting events. We could opt out on the basis of incursions to date.
I suspect your precisely defined red line is the critical one, as are the practical consequences. That doesn't prevent a more robust stance being taken. I'm not sure invading a sovereign state is really compatible with extending the arm of international friendship that is usually part and parcel of international sporting events. We could opt out on the basis of incursions to date.
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Re: 44th Chess Olympiad, Moscow
It is as you say the well established approach, that is not to say it is necessarily the correct one. Executing people and then kicking a football around in the same stadium seems worthy of specific pause for thought. But when there is often a reluctance to impose sanctions of any sort it can be difficult to see why sport should be singled out. The precise range of any sanctions is always difficult to determine.NickFaulks wrote: ↑Tue Feb 22, 2022 4:04 pmI think it is well established that you send teams to international sporting events in countries whose governments treat their own people abominably. Otherwise you would never go anywhere. Invading another country is different.J T Melsom wrote: ↑Tue Feb 22, 2022 3:50 pmCurious that both the football World Cup and the Olympiad took place in Argentina. Was the Dirty War not grubby enough?
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Re: 44th Chess Olympiad, Moscow
Of course certain footballers (most notably Cruyff) declined to play in Argentina in 1978.J T Melsom wrote: ↑Tue Feb 22, 2022 3:50 pmI wasn't aware of this historic incident of protest, but Gulko's efforts to emigrate are covered in a Chessbase article that I found marking his 75th birthday. Who participated in the protest? Curious that both the football World Cup and the Olympiad took place in Argentina. Was the Dirty War not grubby enough?
"Set up your attacks so that when the fire is out, it isn't out!" (H N Pillsbury)
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Re: 44th Chess Olympiad, Moscow
Donner discusses the issue in The King
"Do you play chess?"
"Yes, but I prefer a game with a better chance of cheating."
lostontime.blogspot.com
"Yes, but I prefer a game with a better chance of cheating."
lostontime.blogspot.com
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Re: 44th Chess Olympiad, Moscow
Matt Mackenzie wrote: ↑Tue Feb 22, 2022 6:05 pmOf course certain footballers (most notably Cruyff) declined to play in Argentina in 1978.J T Melsom wrote: ↑Tue Feb 22, 2022 3:50 pmI wasn't aware of this historic incident of protest, but Gulko's efforts to emigrate are covered in a Chessbase article that I found marking his 75th birthday. Who participated in the protest? Curious that both the football World Cup and the Olympiad took place in Argentina. Was the Dirty War not grubby enough?
IIRC Jonathan Mestel publicly protested against the junta whilst there for the Olympiad and declined to play in Dubai 8 years later
The Abysmal Depths of Chess: https://theabysmaldepthsofchess.blogspot.com
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Re: 44th Chess Olympiad, Moscow
It seems I did >>
http://streathambrixtonchess.blogspot.c ... years.html
Not really - it’s just two examples of sports washing. As was the venue of the 78 World Championship matchJ T Melsom wrote: ↑Tue Feb 22, 2022 3:50 pm... Curious that both the football World Cup and the Olympiad took place in Argentina.
The Abysmal Depths of Chess: https://theabysmaldepthsofchess.blogspot.com
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Re: 44th Chess Olympiad, Moscow
I was thinking about this a few days ago. (I posted something about it somewhere.)
FIDE should act now and seek a country willing to take over.
(maybe, due to short notice logistical problems the men's and women's event could be held in different countries.)
In 1954 the Olympiad was to be held in Argentina but they pulled out 6 weeks before the event. (financial problems)
Amsterdam jumped in and saved it. But then they only had to cater for 26 teams, No women's team took part.
in the 2018 Olympiad there were 108 countries represented in the men's event and 151 in the women's.
FIDE should act now and seek a country willing to take over.
(maybe, due to short notice logistical problems the men's and women's event could be held in different countries.)
In 1954 the Olympiad was to be held in Argentina but they pulled out 6 weeks before the event. (financial problems)
Amsterdam jumped in and saved it. But then they only had to cater for 26 teams, No women's team took part.
in the 2018 Olympiad there were 108 countries represented in the men's event and 151 in the women's.
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Re: 44th Chess Olympiad, Moscow
Not really - it’s just two examples of sports washing. As was the venue of the 78 World Championship matchJ T Melsom wrote: ↑Tue Feb 22, 2022 3:50 pm... Curious that both the football World Cup and the Olympiad took place in Argentina.
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i was actually considering whether it was unusual for prestigious events to follow one another in the same country in the same year, because they might have synergies, but are more likely to distract from one another. But yes sports washing is a more recent term for a long standing issue.
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Re: 44th Chess Olympiad, Moscow
There was a lobby that the BCF should not send a team to Elista in 1998. A number of countries gave that Olympiad a miss, although that may have been down to logistal difficuties rather than a protest against the President of the Kalmyk repuvlic.Jonathan Bryant wrote: ↑Tue Feb 22, 2022 10:29 pmIIRC Jonathan Mestel publicly protested against the junta whilst there for the Olympiad and declined to play in Dubai 8 years later