See http://www.olympics.com/eng/

There is no mention of chess.

The President of FIDE has said repeatedly that chess is now an Olympic Sport. For example, several FIDE releases have mentioned the "recognition of chess as a sport by the International Olympic Committee".

The Cover of the new FIDE Directory shows Kirsan Ilyumzhinov meeting with President of the International Olympic Committee, Juan Antonio Samaranch

Does anybody know whether this is true or not?

Do not confuse the Sports Olympics with the FIDE World Chess Olympiad, which is traditionally held in October or November every other year. This year, it will be held in Istanbul.

Sam Sloan

Dear Mr. Sloan:

Chess cannot be in the official program of the Sydney Olympic Games, because it is not yet an Olympic discipline. What the FIDE President has repeatedly said is consistent with this position.

The first step towards being recognized as an Olympic discipline is for the game to be recognized as a sport and that is precisely what the President has been alluding to that "Chess has been recognized as a sport by the International Olympic Committee".

At no stage did FIDE mention that this recognition is as an "Olympic sport". The second step is now for FIDE to apply to be recognized as an Olympic sport and we are now focusing our attention in this direction.

Meanwhile, we are holding discussions with officials of the IOC and the Sydney Games on a Chess Exhibition at the Olympic Village during the Games.

Yours sincerely,
Emmanuel Omuku
Executive Director

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