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Prime Minister Narendra Modi will light the 44th Chess Olympiad’s historic torch relay at Indira Gandhi Stadium in New Delhi on Sunday at 5 p.m. On this occasion, he will also speak to the crowd.
At around 5 PM, the torch relay for the 44th Chess Olympiad will be launched in Delhi. This is a special programme for a variety of reasons. It is for the first time that a Chess Olympiad Torch has been instituted. It is also the first time India is hosting this competition.
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) June 19, 2022
The International Chess Federation, FIDE, has instituted the Chess Olympiad Torch for the first time this year, which is part of Olympic heritage but has never been done before in the Chess Olympiad. The Chess Olympiad Torch Relay will be held in India for the first time.
आज Chess Olympiad games के लिए पहली टॉर्च रिले भारत से शुरू हो रही है।
इस साल पहली बार भारत Chess Olympiad games को host भी करने जा रहा है।
हमें गर्व है कि एक Sports, अपने जन्मस्थान से निकलकर पूरी दुनिया में अपनी छाप छोड़ रहा है, अनेक देशों के लिए एक passion बन गया है: PM
— PMO India (@PMOIndia) June 19, 2022
Notably, this tradition of the Torch Relay for the Chess Olympiad will henceforth always begin in India and travel across all continents before reaching the host country, highlighting the Indian roots of the game. FIDE President Arkady Dvorkovich gave the torch to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who then handed it to Grandmaster Vishwanathan Anand. This year’s torch will only travel within India; but, in the future, it will go to 75 cities over the course of 40 days, culminating at Mahabalipuram, near Chennai. Chess grandmasters from across the state will receive the torch at each venue.
“Our ancestors invented the games like Chaturanga & Chess for the analytical development of the brain. Children who play Chess are becoming good problem-solvers. In the last 8 yrs, India has improved its performance in Chess,” PM Modi said at the event. “New India’s youth is excelling in every sport. They’re making records. Now we’re working keeping 2024 Paris Olympics and 2028 Los Angeles Olympics in mind & for that sportspersons are being supported through TOPS (Target Olympic Podium Scheme) as well,” he added.
Listen to what PM Narendra Modi said at the event:-
At launch of torch relay for the 44th Chess Olympiad, I convey my best wishes to all the participants. https://t.co/uLbZ5JoSRr
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) June 19, 2022