To participants and organizers of the FIDE Online Chess Olympiad
Dear friends!
I would like to welcome you to the FIDE Online Chess Olympiad.
The initiative to hold such competition online was widely supported all around the world and brought together the national teams from 163 countries. I am confident that this momentous international tournament will be a worthy substitute to the 44th Chess Olympiad, which, unfortunately, was postponed due to a difficult epidemiological situation.
Chess on the internet has already gained wide popularity - more than 16 million online games are being played daily - but such a monumental event as Chess Olympiad will be held online for the first time. I believe that this tournament will earn a universal recognition by the chess community, will be held at the highest possible level, and will contribute to the further chess promotion through advanced information technologies.
I wish to all the tournament participants - who should demonstrate their skills, ability to think outside the box and creativity - good luck and every success. As for chess fans – let’s see many exciting games and have vivid, unforgettable memories of this event.
Vladimir Putin
