FÉDÉRATION INTERNATIONALE DES ÉCHECS
Recognized by the International Olympic Committee
9 Syggrou Ave., 11743 Athens, Greece
Tel.: (+30) 2109212047, Fax: (+30) 2109212859, Email: office@fide.com
www.fide.com
PRESS RELEASE – May 7, 2004
World Chess Championship 2004: Invitation of the Libyan Olympic Committee
to all participants still valid.
After receiving notice that several Israeli websites are reporting Libya to
have cancelled the invitation to certain participants of the upcoming World
Chess Championship, FIDE requested a clarification by the Libyan Organizing
Committee of the event.
The Libyan Organizing Committee informed FIDE that LOC President Eng. Mohammad
Moammar Al Gathafi was interviewed on Wednesday May 5 on a meeting of the Libyan
Olympic Committee (LOC). In that interview a journalist asked him about a personal
invitation that he sent to Israeli chessplayers. Eng. Mohammad Moammar Al Gathafi
of course denied that he has sent any personal invitation but he confirmed
sending an invitation to FIDE for all the participants of the WCC 2004.
Furthermore, the Libyan Organizing Committee of the 2004 World Chess Championship
confirmed that the LOC invitation to all WCC 2004 participants, dated 26-4-2004,
is still valid.
FIDE is of course in no position to follow unofficial reports and rumours
spread through the internet. Therefore, FIDE would like to express its appreciation
to the vast majority of worldwide media who did not enter into the reproduction
of reports which do not contribute to the establishment of good relations between
all nations. FIDE is also calling worldwide chess media to follow carefully
the official announcements of FIDE and the Organizing Committee of WCC 2004
for authoritative information about the 2004 World Chess Championship.
About FIDE
The World Chess Federation (FIDE) is recognized by the International Olympic
Committee (IOC) as the supreme body responsible globally for the game of chess
and its championships. FIDE is organizing the World Chess Championship as well
as all world championships for women, junior and youth categories, the bi-annual
Chess Olympiad and it also publishes the official FIDE Rating List (currently
No.1 is Gary Kasparov of Russia). FIDE has a membership of 160 national chess
federations and it retains offices in Greece and Russia.
For more information contact:
Federation Internationale des Echecs (FIDE) - Tel.: (+30) 2109212047, Fax:
(+30) 2109212859, Email: office@fide.com; Mr. Nizar Elhaj - Tel.: (+218) 91
2142562, Fax: (+218) 21 3340637, Email: africanchess@lttnet.net
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