FIDE100 Olympic Torch Ceremony
Auckland
Saturday 10 August 2024
FIDE introduced an Olympic torch at the 2022 Chennai Olympiad and to celebrate FIDE’s 100th anniversary this torch went on a global journey spanning 5 continents, going from Chennai, India all the way to Budapest, Hungary where the 45th Chess Olympiad will take place in September.
New Zealand was chosen to represent Oceania in this global torch relay – a great honour and an acknowledgment of our good standing with FIDE.
A special ceremony, hosted by the New Zealand Chess Federation took place on Saturday, August 10, in Auckland at the Waipuna Hotel and Conference Centre.
Featuring several high-ranking chess officials, including FIDE Deputy President Viswanathan Anand, Deputy Chair of the FIDE Management Board Dana Reizniece-Ozola, and President of the NZCF, Nigel Metge, the event climaxed with the lighting of the cauldron symbolizing the enduring flame of chess in Oceania.
The day’s event included a lecture by former multiple World Chess Champion, GM Vishy Anand, interviews, an autograph and photo session and a celebratory dinner attended by the FIDE officials, local chess officials, NZCF Life Members & Patrons, Olympiad players, NZCF Ambassador for Life GM Murray Chandler, club representatives and other supporters of chess in New Zealand (including 2 of our oldest active players, Tony Booth (86) and Brian Winsor (95). Also in attendance as Australian Chess Federation President, Gary Wastell and his wife Jane
The event garnered some good publicity, both locally and internationally.
- A large number of Facebook posts, by FIDE, Dana Reizniece-Ozola, Murray Chandler and other prominent chess players
- Paul Spiller was interviewed by Troy Matich (MediaWorks) and Jessica Hopkins (RNZ) with 7 or 8 resulting radio broadcasts
- There was also a 5-minute piece on TVNZ’s Breakfast Show – FIDE Event Manager Sergei Indeikin was interviewed.
- Dana Reizniece-Ozola, Murray Chandler and other prominent chess players posted photos and reports on their Facebook pages
- Both Paul Spiller and Vishy Anand were interviewed by Chessbase India. Vishy in particular, spoke highly of New Zealand.
- FIDE published an article on its news page.
- Felix Xie also did a RNZ interview that was aired.
- Paul Spiller was interviewed for an article on TimesOnline
- Additional press coverage appeared on page 12 of Monday’s edition of the NZ Herald and also the Asian Chess Federation newsletter.
Apart from this significant publicity, the event gained a huge amount of goodwill, particularly with FIDE, reinforcing our good standing with them – Sergei Indeikin, in his interview on the Breakfast show, was asked why New Zealand was chosen to be asked to host the Torch Ceremony and the answer was that FIDE had confidence in the management of the New Zealand Chess Federation.
Some comments:
From Dana Reizniece-Ozola (Deputy Chair of the FIDE Management Board)
We love the hot, we handle the cold, and we would hardly see any lukewarm people in the chess world. Those with the fire in their hearts and cool heads are our golden asset.
On the occasion of #FIDE100 Torch Ceremony, we had a chance to enjoy the hospitality of New Zealand’s chess leaders Paul Spiller and Nigel Metge, their sponsors, patrons and volunteers.
Five times champion Vishy Anand’s lecture and Q&A/autograph session for kids and a number of chess amateurs, torch ceremony and a gala dinner. Thank you to Auckland’s & New Zealand’s chess family!
New Zealand Olympiad debutant, Yolanda Chang has entered FIDE’s art competition in celebration of FIDE’s 100th anniversary.
Her artwork was on display at the celebrations.
From Paul Spiller (Organizer and NZCF Vice-President)
What an awesome day that began (at 3am for me!) by picking up Dana at the airport
It was really an incredible day – the lecture was busting at the seams! We had at least an extra 20+ people turn up so well over 100 to hear Vishy’s lecture and then another session with questions, photographs, autographs and book signings.
What a marvellous occasion, enjoyed by all and NZ received high praise from FIDE.
From Murray Tuatini (Auckland Central Chess Club)
It was an honour to meet former world chess champion Vishy Anand at the Waipuna hotel conference today and to hear his lecture and about his life.
Photo Credits: Thanks to Weiyang Yu, Murray Tutaini, Dana Reizniece-Ozola and the New Zealand Chess Federation (Official event photos)