Chess Olympiad flame lit in Kazakh capital

The Chess Olympiad flame was carried from Paris, a birthplace of the FIDE, where the organization marked its 100th anniversary on the World Chess Day on July 20.

Opening the solemn ceremony of the 45^th Chess Olympiad torch relay was Kazakh Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov, who received the torch from FIDE President Arkady Dvorkovich.

Today, chess is an intellectual kind of sport, which took over the world. The International Chess Federation with a century-long history brought together about over 200 countries. Presently, up to 200 thousand Kazakhstanis are engaged in chess. The Kazakh President attaches great attention to the development and promotion of chess in our country. The fact that the Chess Olympiad flame was lit in Astana is a great honor for all Kazakhstanis, said Bektenov, expressing hope that the holding such a high-level event will contribute significantly to the further promotion of chess in the country.

In his speech, FIDE President Arkady Dvorkovich congratulated those competing in the FIDE World Rapid and Blitz Team Championships, noting that the new format has already proven to be much loved by spectators and chess players.

Among the honored torch-bearers were KazChess President Timur Turlov, world junior chess champion Kazybek Nogerbek, two-time blitz world champion Bibisara Assaubayeva, defending world champion Ding Liren, Kazakh Science and Higher Education Minister Sayassat Nurbek, Kazakh astronaut Talgat Mussabayev, and others.

The torch of the 45th Chess Olympiad was lit by four-time Women's World Chess Champion Hou Yifan.

The FIDE World Rapid and Blitz Team Championships 2024 are set to take place in Astana, Kazakhstan, from 1 to 6 August. The tournament brought together 315 chess players in 39 teams.