Press Release

The 34th World Chess Olympiad to be held in Istanbul on 28 October - 12 November has been introduced by a press conference with participation of the State Minister in charge of Sports, Fikret UNLU, as well.

TURKEY HAS BEEN UNDERTAKING A HUGE ORGANISATION

Istanbul, joining two continents, will embrace at this time peace, friendship and brotherhood with this Chess Olympiad. The 34th World Chess Olympiad and the 71st FIDE Congress will be held in Istanbul. The Olympiad in which 2000 sportsmen from 120 countries will participate has been organized jointly by the National Olympiad Committee of Turkey, Turkish Intelligence Foundation and Turkish Chess Federation. In parallel to the Chess Olympiad to be held from 28 October to 12 November at Rumeli Hall of Istanbul Convention and Exhibition Center, also the FIDE Congress will be held between 3-12 November.

This Organization which has great contribution for promotion and introduction of Turkey has been introduced by a press conference with the accompaniment of Mr. Fikret UNLU, the State Minister in charge of Sports, Sinan ERDEM, President of National Olympiad Committee of Turkey, Emrehan HALICI, President of Turkish Intelligence Foundation, Deputy Chairman of President of DSP Group in the Parliament and Vice President of FIDE, and 11 years old Bet?l Cemre YILDIZ, the youngest member of the National Team were present at the Press Conference.

The State Minister of sports Mr. UNLU stated that the 34th World Chess Olympiad would be very important for Turkey's promotion. The Minister, Mr. UNLU, called for support of everybody who desired that 2008 Olympic Games are to be held in Istanbul. Mr. ERDEM, President of National Olympiad Committee of Turkey, reminding that this Organization would be the biggest Olympic Sports Organization to be held in Turkey following the Mediterranean Olympiads which were arranged in 1971, and stated as follows "The 34th World Chess Olympiad will play a very important role in promotion of Turkey. One of the most important differences which make the 34th World Chess Olympiad different from previous Olympiads is that competitions will also be broadcast live through Internet. Our budget is approximately 4 million USD. But this amount is not enough. We hope businessmen would support us". Mr. HALICI, the President of Turkish Intelligence Foundation, mentioned that Chess was important in the way leading to be an intellectual society. Mr. HALICI, stating that Chess is the best friend of brain, added that this sport was the best method for thinking and sharing.

Everybody will be able to watch any competitions together with their comments by visiting www.istanbulchessolympiad.com Internet Site. It is estimated that this Site which serves as direct viewer of millions of chess supporters in the World will be visited by more than two million people within the said period of 14 days. Furthermore, pictures of all competitions will be saved in the archive to be able to viewing for a period of three years. Thus, by means of Internet Site to serve three years access to over 500 millions of chess supporters will be possible for a period of three years and great contribution would have been made for promotion of Turkey and Istanbul thanks to the technology. The fact that Turkey has undertaken such an organization in the field of technology would contribute an additional value in Turkey's international respect and creditability.
Turkey's success in such a huge organization in the branch of such a prestigious sport as chess will reinforce its claim to act as a host in 2008 Summer Olympiad, and will increase its chance. Additionally chess is a sport branch which enriches children's intelligence potential. Chess which is one of the most important means for increasing student's intelligence potentiality and revealing their brain power (IQ) in the World has been used widely by students in Turkey.