November 20, 2009

The Okrug Governor’s press-service informs:

The World Chess Cup-2009 started today in Khanty-Mansiysk.

"I am convinced that this tournament will be a milestone in the history and development of chess sport in the country and in the world and Khanty-Mansiysk will bring new stars", - emphasized Governor of Ugra Alexander Filipenko. "I am confident that chess competition will be uncompromised, interesting for spectators and  effective  for sportsmen".

Deputy Prime-Minister of the Russian Federation Alexander Zhukov said that Khanty-Mansiysk today was reckoned one of the chess centers of Russia: "Next year the 39-th World Chess Olympiad will be hosted here and participants of today’s competition will come to participate in it. The World Chess Cup-2009 is an important event in the life of grandmasters  as the winner will get the right to play in the tournament of candidates". Alexander Zhukov wished sportsmen good luck and success in honest competition.

After the official opening ceremony the participants and guests of the tournament viewed the performance of the Ob-Ugrian Peoples’ Theatre, Soul group "Yamskaya sloboda" and other performing groups of the Autonomous Okrug. The fashion show by designers Elena Goncharova and Elena Chernysh "Chess of Ugra" was demonstrated.

128 sportsmen from 42 countries of the world arrived at Khanty-Mansiysk for the World Cup. Intellectual competitions will be held from November 21 to December 14 at the Center of Arts for Gifted Children of the North. The time of the chess competitions beginning - 15.00.

November 20, 2009

The Okrug Governor’s press-service informs:

The meeting of the Organizing Committee on hosting the World Chess Olympiad in 2010 in Khanty-Mansiysk and Congress of the International Chess Federation was held today in Khanty-Mansiysk.

The meeting was opened by Deputy Prime-Minister of the Russian Federation Alexander Zhukov who said that the coming 39-th World Chess Olympiad - the biggest sports event and attention of all over the world will be paid to it. Khanty-Maniysk has the experience of hosting such tournaments therefore these competitions should be held on a high level. "The Olympiad should become the best in the history also as the Winter Olympic Games -2014 in Sochi", - said Alexander Zhukov.

Governor of Ugra Alexander Filipenko emphasized that the preparation for the Olympiad was smooth and according to the plan. "By September 20, 2010 - Day of the competitions opening ceremony - all the sports facilities will be ready, and all the obligations will be fulfilled", - said the head of the region.

He said that the world financial crisis made some corrections to the primary ideas of hosts. For example, because of the lack of money it was made a decision to refuse from the idea of the reconstruction of the airport in Khanty-Mansiysk. Altogether  "the air gates" of the town will be modernized - the runway will be expanded and its quality will be improved.

Guests will come to Khanty-Mansiysk by charter flights from Dubai, Prague, Milan, Munich. Sportsmen of other countries will arrive at Ugra by transit flights via Moscow. About 2000 hotel rooms will be at service of the Olympiad participants - in the hotels "Tarei", "Yugorskaya dolina", "Seven hills", "Misne".

A thirteen-storeyed dwelling  complex is under construction in the micro-district "Zapadny". Its capacity - 850 apartments and it will be used as a hotel for sportsmen while the Olympiad and then as housing for students or employees of the budgetary sphere.

The competitions will  be held on September 20 - October 04, 2010 at the Tennis Sport Development Center including a hall for 3,5 ths, spectators. The Press-center will be located there. Fans can watch the competitions on-line via Internet.

Tours to the archeological park, Picture Gallery, museum of Igoshev will be organized for the Olympiad participants.

The Congress of the International Chess Federation will be held these days in Khanty-Mansiysk at the Chess Center. Its construction is financed by investors and the building is equipped with special inventory and chess equipment. The Ugra Chess Federation, Chess Internet-center, Chess Academy  will be located there.

The issues of the security and laws and order while the Olympiad, visa simplified procedure and customs control, information support and advertising of the competitions were discussed at the meeting. The decisions are fixed in the final resolution of the meeting.

November 20, 2009

The Okrug Governor’s press-service informs:

Today the Deputy Prime-Minister of the Russian Federation, President of the Russian Chess Federation  Alexander Zhukov and Governor, Chairman of the Government of Ugra Alexander Filipenko visited the facilities which are under construction for the coming World Chess Olympiad, and  checked the work of the recently constructed sports facilities of Khnty-Mansiysk.

The Deputy Prime-Minister visited the Ugra college of the Olympic reserve, arena of Ugra, equestrian - sports complex, a hotel for chess players.

In the evening the opening ceremony of the World Chess Cup took place at the Palace "Oktyabr".