Olympiad Issues Resolved?
Perhaps so, or at least close enough to have the Olympiad take place with all the tardy teams participating. See this article, especially the update, for more information.
Perhaps so, or at least close enough to have the Olympiad take place with all the tardy teams participating. See this article, especially the update, for more information.
First, an open letter from FIDE President Kirsan Iljumzhinov to the Norwegian organizers of the upcoming Olympiad, expressing his dismay about their decision not to allow the Russian women's team to compete. He also protests what he considers their usurpations of FIDE's authority, a theme struck here by Russian Chess Federation President Andrey Filatov and the legal counsel he has retained.
I noted yesterday that a major controversy is afoot with the Olympiad. The base problem was the failure of the Russian chess federation to register their women's team - the defending Olympic champions! - by the deadline. From that starting point further controversy is roiling, including an accusation by FIDE VP Israel Gelfer that the Olympiad organizers in Tromso, Norway failed to show lenience to the Russian team because they were acting under Garry Kasparov's influence. (Kasparov is running for the FIDE Presidency, which will be decided at the Olympiad, and he is in many ways estranged from Russia and Russian chess.)
Today, we have a reply from Kasparov. He expresses sympathy for the Russian women's team but affirms with the organizers that the rules ought to be followed. As for Gelfer, he has no sympathy there, as you can see for yourself.
A controversy is cooking at the Olympiad, and it (the event) hasn't even started yet. The Russian women are the defending Olympic champions, but as of this writing they are excluded from the competition. Why? Because they failed to register in time. Pretty stupid on their part, but it would seem to be an open and shut case.
However, it's possible that FIDE has the jurisdiction to overrule the organizers on the matter and let them play anyway. (The organizers interpret the FIDE statute differently.) Moreover, it seems that the Olympiad organizers gave the Russian Chess Federation a receipt (invoice) acknowledging payment for the women's team as well as the men's.
So why the delay? Apparently the Russian federation had to wait until Kateryna Lagno successfully switched her allegiance from the Ukraine to Russia. (Why any self-respecting Ukranian would do that is entirely beyond me. I can't imagine switching my affiliation to Canada come that inevitable day when those crazy and militaristic Canadians try to take over the USA. But Lagno's decision is hers, not mine.)
Anyway, there's much more in the article, linked above.
HT: Macauley Peterson.