The Chess Olympiad Torch is on the move! In a spectacular handoff ceremony at the Major Dhyanchand National Stadium in New Delhi, India, Union Minister for Youth Affairs and Sports, Anurag Singh Thakur, passed on the flame to Budapest, Hungary, the host city of the 45th edition of the Chess Olympiad.
This thrilling event wasn’t just about passing a torch; it was a day filled with excitement and high-stakes games. Imagine this: the Minister, joined by none other than the legendary Grandmaster Vishwanathan Anand, squared off against FIDE President Arkady Dvorkovich and Hungarian Grandmaster Judit Polgár in a friendly yet intense game of chess.
The Minister expressed his joy, stating, “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.”
He further added, “Chess is an intellectual legacy that India probably offers to the world, and it is not merely a sport, but a reflection of strategic depth and philosophical wisdom. The elegant sport not only sharpens the mind but also teaches invaluable lessons of patience and resilience and takes one onto the path of intellectual pursuit of strategic mastery.”
Let’s not forget, the last Chess Olympiad was held in Chennai, India, in 2022, where over 2,500 players and 7,000 enthusiasts took part in the global event. The next chapter of this incredible saga will unfold in Budapest, Hungary, this year, following the official announcement earlier in the year.
Did you know? The 1st Chess Olympiad Torch Relay was ignited by none other than the Prime Minister Narendra Modi himself at Delhi’s Indira Gandhi Stadium on 19th June 2022.
