Union Minister for Youth Affairs and Sports, Anurag Singh Thakur, on Wednesday handed over the Chess Olympiad Torch to Budapest, Hungary, the host of the 45th edition of the Chess Olympiad. The transfer of the torch took place at the Major Dhyanchand National Stadium in New Delhi.
A notable highlight of the ceremony was a friendly chess game played between Thakur and Indian Grand Master Vishwanathan Anand against FIDE President Arkady Dvorkovich and Hungarian Grand Master Judit Polgár. Following the match, the torch was officially handed over to the FIDE President and representatives from Budapest.
“I am delighted that what we decided a few years back (to have Chess Olympiad Torch Relay) actually happened and that I am here at the handoff ceremony of the Torch for the Chess Olympiad,” Thakur said.
He underscored the significance of chess as not merely a sport but an intellectual legacy that India proudly shares with the world. Thakur highlighted the game’s role in cultivating strategic thinking, patience, and resilience, guiding individuals towards intellectual pursuits and strategic mastery.
The 44th edition of the Chess Olympiad held in Chennai in 2022 witnessed the participation of over 2500 players and 7000 participants globally. The upcoming edition, set to take place in Budapest, was officially announced earlier this year. The inauguration of the 1st Chess Olympiad Torch Relay commenced with a ceremony led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi at Delhi’s Indira Gandhi Stadium on June 19, 2022.