PM Narendra Modi opened the FIDE forty fourth Chess Olympiad on Thursday. He impressed the gamers with motivational phrases and stated that in sports activities, there are not any losers, however solely winners and future winners.
“Sports activities is gorgeous as a result of it has the inherent energy to unite. Sports activities carry individuals and societies nearer. Sports activities nurture a spirit of teamwork,” he stated.
The Chess Olympiad, essentially the most prestigious match, is hosted by India, the house of chess at a particular time in its historical past, which marks 75 years of freedom from colonial rule, he stated.
The forty fourth Olympiad has been a match of many firsts and data and that is the primary time the Chess Olympiad is being held within the hometown of chess, India, he stated. It’s coming to Asia for the primary time in 3 a long time.
In his deal with in the course of the inaugural on the Jawaharlal Nehru Indoor Stadium, Modi stated it’s an honour to have worldwide chess gamers at such a particular time.
“In sports activities, there are not any losers, there are winners and there are future winners,” he stated. “Might the forty fourth Chess Olympiad in Chennai be an enriching expertise for everybody. Finest needs to all of the individuals.”
The Prime Minister stated there has by no means been a greater time for sports activities in India than the current. “India had its best-ever performances within the Olympics, Paralympics and Deaflympics. We achieved glory even in sports activities the place we had not gained earlier”, he stated.
India’s sporting tradition is turning into stronger because of the excellent mixture of the power of youth and the enabling surroundings, he stated.
The PM, as within the occasions held in Tamil Nadu prior to now started his speech by uttering the Tamil phrase for greetings, ‘Vanakkam.’
He stated that in a brief time frame, the organisers have made excellent preparations. The Tamil Nadu authorities together with the Centre’s full assist is internet hosting the occasion.
Assuring one of the best hospitality to gamers from far and large, Modi quoted the ‘Athithi Devo Bhava’ slogan which suggests ‘our visitors are like God.’
Additionally, the Prime Minister cited Tamil saint-poet Tiruvalluvar’s couplet on the importance of hospitality.
The Prime Minister stated that the occasion has the best ever variety of international locations taking part, the best ever variety of groups and the best variety of entries within the ladies’s part.
“Even God performed a sport of chess with a princess,” he stated. The reference was to a Lord Shiva temple within the Tiruvarur district which has a connection to chess. The presiding deity of the temple is “Sathuranga (identify for chess in Tamil) Vallabhanathar”.
The Prime Minister stated Tamil Nadu therefore has a robust historic reference to chess and it’s a chess powerhouse for India. “It has produced a lot of India’s chess grandmasters. It’s dwelling to the best minds, vibrant tradition and the oldest language on the planet, Tamil.”
Tamil Nadu temples have sculptures representing totally different sports activities and thus sports activities is all the time thought of divine in Indian tradition, he stated.
Tamil Nadu Governor R N Ravi, Chief Minister M Okay Stalin, and Union Ministers Anurag Thakur and L Murugan amongst others had been current in the course of the glittering opening ceremony.
The sporting occasion shall be held within the close by Mamallapuram, about 50 km from right here.
The Olympiad is being held in India for the primary time ever, after being moved out of Russia following its invasion of Ukraine and has attracted a report variety of entries within the Open (188) and ladies’s (162) sections.
The torch relay of the Chess Olympiad coated 75 cities in 40 days and reached Chennai on the day of the opening ceremony. The particular factor is that this match is being organized for the primary time in India, which can also be the birthplace of this sport.
India is celebrating the seventy fifth anniversary of independence, so the torch of the Olympiad coated a distance of 27 thousand kilometres passing by 75 cities.
(Inputs PTI)