Moscow - The International Olympic Committee (IOC) must recognize chess as an Olympic sport, President of the World Chess Federation (FIDE) Kirsan Ilyumzhinov told a press conference at the Interfax head office on Wednesday, June 11.
“The FIDE’s primary task is for chess to be included in the Winter Olympics program and to be already recognized by the IOC as an Olympic sport. We have regular meetings with the IOC executives. Meetings with the IOC are also scheduled for next month,” Ilyumzhinov said.
He said that FIDE Presidential Candidate Garry Kasparov has recently been criticizing the IOC executives, which might have an adverse effect. “Lately he (Kasparov) has been speaking out against the IOC, accusing the IOC and its president of corruption, which is not very good for the FIDE,” Ilyumzhinov said.
