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.
