Friday, October 24, 2008

FIDE DUES: Ethiopian, Ugandan and Nigerian Chess Federations barred from the 2008 Chess Olympiad

ADDENDUM: Ethiopian, Ugandan and Nigerian Chess Federations are taking part in the 2008 Olympiad. Most of the due issues were taken care of while some other outstanding matters will be taken care of at a later date...

Posted by Picasa PICTURE:THE MALE AND THE FEMALE TEAM OF NIGERIA TO THE 2006 CHESS OLYMPIAD.

Ethiopia, Uganda and Nigeria Chess Federations are barred from the 2008 Chess Olympiad because of their failures to pay their annual dues to the World chess Federation (FIDE). This is a serious and rather unfortunate turn of events.

I spoke with Mr. Nigel Freeman, the Treasurer of FIDE today and he confirmed this story to me. Mr. Freeman said 25 nations were owing Fide money and that 22 of them have paid their past dues. The only 3 countries that have not paid their dues are Ethiopia, Uganda and Nigeria and he has informed the German organizers of the Olympiad not to allow them to participate in the Olympiad. According to Mr. Freeman, "their accommodations have also been canceled" .

This is a very serious and rather sad development to put it mildly. We are working hard to see what can be done to help the chess players who are the real victim in this whole episode. Chess players are innocent in all this and this is how the failures of chess administrators can impact negatively on the players and stifle the development of the game that we all love. There has to be a way out of all this somehow.

Kunle Elegbede



FROM FIDE ACCOUNTS OFFICE :

Dear Mr Modrozynski,

Despite repeated requests to the Ethiopian, Ugandan and Nigerian Chess Federations, we have not received payment of their arrears due to FIDE. I am, therefore, requesting that you do not accept their participation in the Dresden Olympiad and that if they appear at the event they should not be allowed to play and free accommodation should not be given to the teams.

I shall be glad if you will confirm this request to the three federations although I have copied them with this email.

Regards,
Nigel Freeman
Treasurer
WORLD CHESS FEDERATION (FIDE)


ETHIOPIAN CHESS FEDERATION



UGANDAN CHESS FEDERATION


NIGERIA CHESS FEDERATION

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