Azerbaijan on focus for Baku Chess Olympiad 2016

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his autumn all eyes of chess community will focus on Baku, which will host global sporting event -- World Chess Olympiad.

About 2,000 best chess masters representing as many as 180 countries will get together in the capital on September 1-14. The Land of Fire expects to welcome up to 3,000 guests for this occasion, which is quite big number as compared to previous scaly events.

Mahir Mammadov, the director of the operations committee for the World Cup and the Chess Olympiad said that Azerbaijani chess players are keen to represent their country with dignity.

"The 42nd World Chess Olympiad is very important for our chess players. A prestigious event will be held in the capital of Azerbaijan – Baku, for the first time. The Youth and Sport Ministry and Azerbaijan Chess Federation (ACF) have created the necessary conditions for all teams, participating in the Olympics. Both men's and women's teams will continue training," said Mammadov.

Meanwhile, the name of another star ambassador for the World Chess Olympiad has been revealed.

Azerbaijan Greek-Roman wrestler, gold medalist of the Summer Olympic Games 2004 in Greece Farid Mansurov has become the celebrity ambassador of the Baku Chess Olympiad.

A special certificate wsa awarded the athlete by the executive director of the Baku Chess Olympiad Operating Committee, Murad Iskandarli.

Farid Mansurov, talking to reporters, shared his impressions with the announcement of the celebrity ambassador.

“It is an honor to be a star ambassador, but it also entails tremendous responsibility. I am grateful to the Baku Chess Olympiad Operating Committee for this attention. I have always been interested in chess. I learned to play chess in my childhood. Whenever I have free time at home, I play chess with my father and brother.

He stressed that it is quite delightful that such a prestigious tournament as the World Chess Olympiad will be held in Baku. "I will do my best to promote this competition as a star ambassador. The fact that nearly 3,000 players will join the event is evidence of the tough competition in store for all teams. I am sure that the Baku Chess Olympiad will be organized at a high level. I also wish the best of luck to Azerbaijani chess players. We have a lot of confidence in them. I am sure that our team will do well in the Olympiad.”

The budget for the Olympiad is 13.3 million euros. Some 6.8 million euros are set aside for the first-class accommodation for the players and delegates. Another 1 million will go to the FIDE Commission for World Championships and Olympiads and intellectual rights.

The tournament will take place at the unusual shape building Baku Crystal Hall once hosting Eurovision Song Contest in 2012.