PH endorses chess for Winter Olympics
abs-cbnNEWS.com Posted at 07/10/2011 1:56 PM | Updated as of 07/10/2011 1:56 PM
MANILA, Philippines – The Philippines became the first country to officially endorse the inclusion of chess in the 2014 Russia Winter Olympics. This was after FIDE President Kirsan Ilyunzhinov paid a courtesy visit to Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) President Jose “Peping” Cojuango last Friday. Cojuango was the first national Olympic committee leader to sign the endorsement letter addressed to the International Olympic Committee (IOC). "Chess is a legitimate sport played internationally. Its inclusion (in the Olympics) is long overdue," said Cojuango. "It will also give us the opportunity to compete in the Winter Games again." The Philippines last sent a delegation to the quadrennial event in 1994. National Chess Federation of the Philippines (NCFP) President Prospero "Butch" Pichay accompanied Ilyumzhinov in the courtesy visit. He lauded Cojuangco for supporting the initiative. "We have several world-class chess players, and they are mostly young," said Pichay. "If the breaks go our way, we can even produce a medal in world competitions." "There is no better setting for us to showcase our talent than the Olympics," Pichay said. Ilyumzhinov has been lobbying to add chess in the Olympic calendar for some time now. He is currently touring Asia to seek the support of IOC members from the region. According to Ilyumzhinov, around 50 IOC members have already vouched their support for the inclusion of chess in the 2014 Winter Olympics. The Philippines was the first to put it in writing. The IOC has 116 voting members. "We need to get a majority vote from the IOC members to make it happen," said Ilyumzhinov. "So far, we’re getting positive response from most of them."
By Marlon Bernardino
Ekleme: 00:53 03 Ağustos 2011 Çarşamba
MANILA, Philippines – The Philippines became the first country to officially endorse the inclusion of chess in the 2014 Russia Winter Olympics. This was after FIDE President Kirsan Ilyunzhinov paid a courtesy visit to Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) President Jose “Peping” Cojuango last Friday. Cojuango was the first national Olympic committee leader to sign the endorsement letter addressed to the International Olympic Committee (IOC). "Chess is a legitimate sport played internationally. Its inclusion (in the Olympics) is long overdue," said Cojuango. "It will also give us the opportunity to compete in the Winter Games again." The Philippines last sent a delegation to the quadrennial event in 1994. National Chess Federation of the Philippines (NCFP) President Prospero "Butch" Pichay accompanied Ilyumzhinov in the courtesy visit. He lauded Cojuangco for supporting the initiative. "We have several world-class chess players, and they are mostly young," said Pichay. "If the breaks go our way, we can even produce a medal in world competitions." "There is no better setting for us to showcase our talent than the Olympics," Pichay said. Ilyumzhinov has been lobbying to add chess in the Olympic calendar for some time now. He is currently touring Asia to seek the support of IOC members from the region. According to Ilyumzhinov, around 50 IOC members have already vouched their support for the inclusion of chess in the 2014 Winter Olympics. The Philippines was the first to put it in writing. The IOC has 116 voting members. "We need to get a majority vote from the IOC members to make it happen," said Ilyumzhinov. "So far, we’re getting positive response from most of them."
By Marlon Bernardino
Ekleme: 00:53 03 Ağustos 2011 Çarşamba
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