Al Ain: The Asian Chess Federation (ACF) held the Asian Chess Summit in the garden city with a crowded calendar.
The summit consisted of five events: Asian Chess Symposium, Asian Chess Development Programme, Asian Continental Assembly, Asian Excellence Awards and Asian Chess Forum.
All of these events were held to highlight the growth and development of the sport over the last couple of years across the 54 countries in Asia.
The Asian Chess Symposium and Forum affords the opportunity to discuss the different developmental progress that have been made in chess across Asia, as well as, share ideas on new ways to enhance the growth of chess on the Asian continent.
At the Asian Chess Symposium, Protocol Director and OCA Coordination Committee of the Olympic Council of Asia, Abdulla Y. Mulla shared his experience on the ‘Impact of Mega Events’. Abdulla Mulla spoke about opportunities through events, increased social media impact, development of infrastructure, and development of tourism through events, as well as, the training and development of youth whiles making references to how chess could also take advantage of similar sporting examples in table tennis and golf to become a recognised summer and winter sport at the next Olympics.
Allan Herbert of FIDE Development Commission also spoke about FIDE’s Development Commission, Development Goals Programmes and Financial Incentives, Accessing Development Funding, The Development List, Development Statistics and what he has learnt after 30 years in FIDE.
Speaking on the occasion, Herbert said: “Passionate leadership is the differentiator using Turkey’s stunning development is a demonstration of what passionate leadership can do; There is no shortage of kids willing to learn and play chess. No school uninterested in have some form of a chess programme.”
Ali Nihat Yazici, Fide Vice President, Former President of Turkey Chess Association and Chairman Fide Chess in Schools Commission shared the rags-to-riches story of the Turkish Chess Association, which virtually started from scratch without any significant funding to raking millions of euros annually from sponsorship, government budget allocation, fees and membership registration.
