Since March this year, when the campaigns were launched, we published a total of 38 articles directly connected with the FIDE Presidential elections to be held during the Chess Olympiad in Khanty-Mansiysk at the end of September. We could have easily doubled or tripled that number if we had simply used the articles, statements, press releases, and letters submitted to us for publication.
However, it seems that people are not reading these articles with great enthusiasm (we can see from our server logs how many are clicking through to them and how long they stay on the main reports). Also, the number of letters we receive on the election articles is minuscule – compared, say, to a random tournament, Magnus, G-Star or Jinky. Finally, posting a report – any report – usually generates a demand by the other side for us to publish a response, which once again produces a new reaction, potentially ad infinitum. And there is constant pressure brough to bear on us to publish it all – apparently because once it appears on chessbase.com it become in some way "public and official".
Today we will bring you a summary of the articles that have appeared on the Kirsan Ilyumzhinov campaign site. Each section has a link to the original, which you can peruse at leisure. But be warned: in a short while we will do the same for the rival Karpov 2010 campaign site, where there are a number of juicy items. And finally we have received some very interesting and potentially controversial articles by experts on FIDE and the election, which we hope to share with you in the coming week.
Chessbase published an article submitted by the Karpov campaign stating many incorrect things about the Cyprus issue. In response to this article, the President of the Cyprus Chess Federation, Mr. Christoforos Tornaritis sent a letter to Chessbase on August the 17th (see attached) but Chessbase has yet to publish it, and most likely never will, despite the inaccuracies in the article they published. Why would they not publish a letter sent by a president of a country’s chess federation if the media which covers “chess news” is supposed to be unbiased. This shows the attitude that the Karpov campaign (and Chessbase?) have towards other countries…
Once more we notice the double standards by which Chessbase is treating the two electoral tickets of Kirsan and Karpov. Such behavior is of no surprise to us.
Here's the original article in which the Ilyumzhinov camp claimed to have the support of the Cyprus Chess Federation, with a statement signed by Christoforos Tornaritis.
Here the reply by Vassilis Aristotelous, who provided a signed document by ten out of the eighteen members of the Cyprus Chess Federation Board indicating their preference towards the candidacy of Anatoly Karpov.
Here's the full letter by Christoforos Tornaritis, President of the Cyprus Chess Federation, who says that after Karpov's visit to Cyprus on July 14th he had personally contacted the office of the President of the Republic of Cyprus and asked them if that was true that the Cyprus President Dimitris Christofias supported Karpov (as reported on the Karpov 2010 campaign site). "I showed them the copies of the article," writes Tornaritis. "The answer was that the President of Cyprus has never offered any support or promised anything else to Mr. Karpov but he just accepted to meet him for a coffee as the ex-world chess champion. President’s Christofias office said to me that they would send a letter to Mr Karpov in order to remove this story from their site as it is not true." [The article is still there in its original form]
Let's see what we missed on the Ilyumzhinov campaign site:
24.08.2010: 88 National Federations Support Kirsan Ilyumzhinov
– Thank You Moldova!
The Moldova Chess Federation Officially Announces Their Support for the
"One World. One Vision." Team, and officially announced its participation
in the 39th Chess Olympiad. The announcement is signed by Vladimir Molozhen,
President Chess Federation Republic of Moldova. More.
26.08.2010 90 National Federations Now Support the “One World.
One Vision.” Team!
We welcome the support of the National Federations of India and
Sri Lanka! We would like to thank the 90 National Federations who have come
forth to support Kirsan Ilyumzhinov and the “One World. One Vision.” Team!
More
(essentially just what is said in the blurb.
26.08.2010: Kirsan Announces Sponsorship Package of Two Million
US Dollars for the Next Two Years!
Wonderful news! FIDE President's visit to Beirut has brought excellent
results. After several meetings and high-level talks he announced the sponsorship
package worth 2 million US dollars for the next two years. " According to
this agreement with Mr Alain Khoueiry, owner of Flipper 7 and Vogue Publishing,
the sponsor shall provide two million USD for event sponsorship such as
the Grand-Prix series for men and women, as well as for a number of other
interesting ideas which were discussed,” Kirsan Ilyumzhinov said.
“The potential in Lebanon is enormous and thank to Mr. Khoueiry, we
have found co-operation at the highest levels in Government as well as in
the business community.” More
(two images).
28.8.2010: 12 Grants for Young Talents from Malaysia
On the 27th of August the FIDE President, Head of the Republic
of Kalmykia Kirsan Ilyumzhinov arrived in the capital of Malaysia Kuala
Lumpur on a working visit. In the morning he had a meeting with Ambassador
Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Russian Federation to Malaysia
Mrs. Lyudmila Vorobieva. Then the FIDE President proceeded to meet the President
of the Malaysian Olympic Council Yang Mulia Tunku Tan Sri Imran Ibni Almarhum
Tuanku Ja’afar, where Mr. Ilyumzhinov requested his kind assistance
in the inclusion of chess into the Olympic Games programme. More
(article with pictures).
29.8.2010: KIRSAN KEEPS HIS PROMISES!
The FIDE President Kirsan Ilyumzhinov has kept all his promises
given during his working visits of this summer. Let’s remind you that in
August he inaugurated two tournaments – the 1st UMADA Cup (Trinidad and
Tobago, prize fund 40000 USD) and the Russian Federation to Malaysia Mrs.
Lyudmila Vorobieva. Then the FIDE President proceeded to meet the President
of the Malaysian Olympic Council Yang Mulia Tunku Tan Sri Imran Ibni Almarhum
Tuanku Ja’afar, where Mr. Ilyumzhinov requested his kind assistance
in the inclusion of chess into the Olympic Games programme. More
(article with pictures).
31.8.2010: Chess to Become Part of the School Curriculum in Vietnam!
The FIDE President , Head of Kalmykia Kirsan Ilyumzhinov arrived
in Vietnam on a working visit. At the airport Tan Son Nhat he was met by
the President of the country Nguyen Minh Triet, the Secretary of the City
Council Le Thanh Hai and the Mayor of Ho Chi Minh Le Hoang Quan as well
as high officials of the President’s Administration and Foreign Ministry.
More
(article with many pictures).
31.8.2010: Working Visit of the FIDE President to Singapore
The FIDE President arrived in Singapore on a working visit where
he met with the FIDE General Secretary, President of the local Chess Federation
Ignatius Leong. During their discussion the issues of Chess in Schools programme
as well as chess development and popularization in the region were touched
upon. FIDE Vice President Zurab Azmaiparashvili took part in the meeting,
who reported on the results of his inspection trip to Khanty-Mansiysk, where
in September Chess Olympiad shall start. More
(one picture).
We welcome the support of the National Federations of Aruba and
Barbados!
92 National Federations Now Support the “One World. One Vision.”
Team! We would like to thank the 92 National Federations who have come forth
to support Kirsan Ilyumzhinov and the “One World. One Vision.” Team! More
(flags).
