FIDE 44th Chess Olympiad: PM Modi declares the opening of the 44th Chess Olympiad

• Image Credit: Internet

• Jul 28, 2022 | Poonam Nath

Modi stated that India is hosting the chess Olympiad at a special time in its history, as it celebrates 75 years of independence from colonial rule.

Digital Desk: In a glittering ceremony at the huge Jawaharlal Nehru Indoor Stadium, Prime Minister Narendra Modi officially opened the FIDE 44th Chess Olympiad in Chennai in the presence of Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin, five-time chess champion Viswanathan Anand and many others. After Anand handed the Olympic torch to Modi and Stalin and then to young grandmaster R Praggnanandhaa and others, Modi announced to, "Let the games begin."

"Chess Olympiad is hosted by India at a special time in its history, which marks 75 years of freedom from colonial rule," Modi said during the opening ceremony. In sports, he continued, "there are winners, and there will be winners in the future.

"There are many temples in Tamil Nadu with beautiful sculptures representing various sports," he continued. Tamil, the oldest language, and a thriving culture exist. Chess and Tamil Nadu have a long-standing relationship. Numerous chess masters have come from the state.

Earlier, Stalin congratulated Modi for opening the stadium with elegant lighting and special performances.

A five-time world chess champion, Viswanathan Anand, gave Modi and Stalin the Olympic torch. At that time, the torch was at Chennai's Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium.

The Prime Minister was given a warm welcome upon his arrival, with performances by musicians and percussionists all along the route he took by road to get to the venue. The PM was wearing a shawl with a border designed like a chessboard.

Sarvam Patel, a skilled sand artist, used chess pieces, images of the host country, India, and images of Stalin and Modi to create magic inside the stadium in the heart of Chennai. Beginning on July 28 and running through August 10, the FIDE 44th Chess Olympics.

A large chessboard and the flags of the competing nations were embellished in the opening scene by the lighting's multicoloured effects and magic of light. Chess pieces in the sizes of a king—king, bishop, rook, queen, knight, and pawns—were arranged on the dais of the stadium.

The report said the dance song "Vanakkam Chennai, Vanakkam Chess" was played. The game of chess that was going to be played in Mamallapuram, a historic seaport town in Tamil Nadu, was captured in an audiovisual with the theme of sand sculpture.

Teams from dozens of nations, including Japan, China, Australia, Germany, Italy, South Africa, Austria, Albania, Algeria, Angola, Argentina, and Barbados, were welcomed to the stadium to cheers from the crowd as an orchestra played pulsating music.

Indian instrumental music, including "Jai Ho," was played while "Vande Mataram" was performed. Kathak, Odissi, Kuchupudi, Kathakali, Mohiniyattam, Manipuri, Sattriya, and Bharathanatyam—the eight classical dances of India—were all performed. Additionally, those in attendance enjoyed Lydian Nadhaswaram's musical performance from Chennai. Participants took a pledge as the FIDE anthem played. Top actor Rajinikanth was among those attendees of the event.