Regular chess players seldom realize how important local government funding is for chess, federations, and the sport on national level. One of the important decisions at the upcoming FIDE Congress during the Chess Olympiad 2024 is the resolution by the Kyrgyzstan Chess Federation to restore the full membership rights of the Russian Chess Federation, which in its essence puts the national federations at risk of losing government funding.
The story so far
Aug 21 Kyrgyzstan Chess Federation submits resolution to restore the full membership rights of RCF
Aug 22 David Llada talks about systematically to reward submission
Sept 1 Alexander Kamyshin is the new President of Ukrainian Chess Federation
Sept 7 Babur Tolbaev is among the candidates for FIDE Ethics Commission chairman
Sept 9 Russia most probably has the votes to pass the Kyrgyz resolution
Sept 9 Kamyshin: I will personally attend the FIDE General Assembly
Sept 12 Garry Kasparov supports Alexander Kamyshin
Sept 12 Malcolm Pein for BBC, “Russia’s control of FIDE is absolute”
Sept 16 Vasyl Ivanchuk and the Olympic teams of Ukraine protest against Kyrgyz motion
Potential IOC exclusion for chess
Chess is not going to be an Olympic sport any time soon. Yet, membership in IOC matters. The main funding of federations is state money. This money comes from chess being recognized as sport and as part of the IOC Olympic movement. Without this recognition no Ministry of Sports will agree to provide funding for a local federation. The big question here – are federations ready to lose their funding on a national level following a potential IOC exclusion?
George Mastrokouskos compares the situation of FIDE to the recently excluded IBA (International Boxing Association). In a post on his personal Facebook account, Mastrokoukos notes, “The IOC has fully withdrawn its recognition of IBA. The IBA no longer exists as a recognised sport federation and was removed permanently from the IOC list […] The decision to cancel the Kremlin-controlled IBA as a sport federation was passed in the IOC meeting with an overwhelming 69-1 vote and only 10 members abstaining.” He continues, “The IOC took over the sport in the Paris Olympics and organised the boxing events without the IBA […] A separate international boxing federation has been created, with the name “World Boxing” in direct competition to IBA. It has already attracted 42 national federations,” suggesting a possible scenario in FIDE, in case sanctions on the International chess federation are applied.
“If I was a FIDE delegate, I would have to think twice: With the outrageous Kyrgyz/Russian proposal to violate IOC recommendations, are we voting for the Kremlin’s interests or for the interests of chess and our national federations? Are we ready to jeopardize everything for a bunch of pro-Kremlin individuals?
Many governments fund chess as a sport due to its recognition by the IOC. It will be an open vote according to the FIDE statutes. And EVERY single vote carries HUGE responsibility for the future of our sport. I really hope that common logic will prevail in the end,” concludes Mastrokoukos.
Hot link between IBA and FIDE
The chief editor of Tribuna.com Oleg Scherbakov points to a hot link between FIDE and IBA. The Chairman of FIDE Ethics Commission Francois Strydom also holds the position of Chairman of the International Boxing Association (IBA) Dispute Resolution Chamber. Francois Strydom recently came into the spotlight with another decision on CFR. Scherbakov adds, “In June 2024 the Russian legal company SILA, which protects Russian sports in the courts, announced the creation of an educational course in sports law. One of the lecturers of this course became the same Francois Strydom.”
Secret vote to follow?
On Friday evening, on a phone call with a FIDE Congress attendant who wished to remain anonymous, Chessdom.com learned that supporters of the Kyrgyzstan Chess Federation motion are planning to propose secret vote. This, however, is not possible, as it will be infringement of FIDE Chapter 17.15. It states that all votes, except those for President, Zonal President, Commissions, or Olympiad, should be taken by open vote. Chessdom’s source claims that despite this rule, Kyrgyz motion supporters will still try to suggest secret voting.
Is there a good move in case of sanctions for FIDE?
In case of sanctions for FIDE, the organization will be de-legitimized in the majority of countries worldwide. That will automatically mean lost financial support from national Ministries of Sport, hitting organizers and players alike. The only logical option for chess will be the creation of a parallel federation, which can seek recognition. Such federation was created by Kasparov in 1993 and existed until the unification match in Elista. Kasparov has been active lately on the issue. Yet, it seems the bigger figure that can rally breakaway federations behind him is the new President of Ukrainian Chess Federation Alexander Kamyshin who already stepped up to fight the Kyrgyz motion.
Stay tuned for more news from the FIDE Congress
