Union Sports Minister Anurag Thakur Hands Over Chess Olympiad Torch to Budapest

New Delhi: Union Minister for Youth Affairs and Sports, Anurag Singh Thakur, presented the Chess Olympiad Torch to Budapest, Hungary, the designated host for the 45th edition of the Chess Olympiad. The official handover ceremony transpired at the Major Dhyanchand National Stadium in New Delhi.

In a momentous event, Minister Anurag Thakur, accompanied by Indian Grand Master Vishwanathan Anand, engaged in a friendly chess match against FIDE President Arkady Dvorkovich and Hungarian Grand Master Judit Polgár. Subsequently, the Olympiad torch was handed over to the FIDE President and Budapest.

Expressing his delight, Minister Thakur remarked, “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 continued by highlighting the profound significance of chess, stating, “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.”

The 44th edition of the Chess Olympiad took place in Chennai in 2022, witnessing the participation of over 2500 players and 7000 individuals. The upcoming FIDE Chess Olympiad is slated for Budapest, Hungary, with the official announcement made earlier this year.

The inaugural Chess Olympiad Torch Relay commenced in a ceremony led by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi at Delhi’s Indira Gandhi Stadium on June 19, 2022, marking a significant milestone in the promotion of chess at the global stage.