2014 Tromsø Chess Olympiad

[Gary Ruben]

Re: Re : 2014 Tromsø Chess Olympiad

Is that for our national team in rating order or board order?

[Wayne Komer]

Re: Re : 2014 Tromsø Chess Olympiad

Tromso Olympiad 2014

Yes, I used a press release instead of the official website. I apologize, no slight intended. This gives me the opportunity to list a few more teams:

United States of America

1. GM Nakamura Hikaru - 2775
2. GM Kamsky Gata - 2712
3. GM Onischuk Alexander - 2659
4. GM Akobian Varuzhan - 2653
5. GM Shankland Samuel L – 2632

Captain: IM John W. Donaldson
Average Rating: 2686

Canada

1. GM Kovalyov Anton - 2636
2. GM Hansen Eric - 2584
3. GM Sambuev Bator - 2528
4. IM Gerzhoy Leonid - 2481
5. IM Hambleton Aman - 2468

Captain: FM Victor Plotkin
Average Rating: 2539

Hungary

1. GM Leko Peter - 2737
2. GM Rapport Richard - 2701
3. GM Almasi Zoltan - 2692
4. GM Polgar Judit - 2685
5. GM Balogh Csaba – 2648

Captain: IM Tamas Horvath
Average Rating: 2693

China

1. GM Ding Liren - 2714
2. GM Wang Yue - 2713
3. GM Yu Yangyi - 2675
4. GM Ni Hua - 2653
5. GM Wei Yi – 2634

Captain: GM Jun Xu
Average Rating: 2679

Azerbaijan

1. GM Mamedyarov Shakhriyar - 2743
2. GM Radjabov Teimour - 2724
3. GM Mamedov Rauf - 2659
4. GM Safarli Eltaj - 2649
5. GM Guseinov Gadir – 2613

Captain: GM Alexander Khalifman
Average Rating: 2678

Israel

1. GM Gelfand Boris - 2753
2. GM Rodshtein Maxim - 2672
3. GM Smirin Ilia - 2660
4. GM Postny Evgeny - 2641
5. GM Sutovsky Emil – 2625

Captain: IM Alexander Kaspi
Average Rating: 2670

Netherlands

1. GM Giri Anish - 2752
2. GM Tiviakov Sergei - 2656
3. GM Van Wely Loek - 2654
4. GM L'Ami Erwin - 2647
5. GM Van Kampen Robin – 2631

Captain: GM Vladimir B. Tukmakov
Average Rating: 2668

There are also teams from the International Chess Committee of the Deaf and the International Braille Chess Association

[Paul Bonham]

Re: Re : 2014 Tromsø Chess Olympiad

USA Teams for the Chess Olympiad in Tromso
Jul 7, 2014

The United States Chess Federation has announced the lineups of Open and Women’s teams for the upcoming 41st Chess Olympiad in Tromsø, Norway.

Open (in rating order):
1. Hikaru Nakamura 2787
2. Gata Kamsky 2717
3. Alexander Onischuk 2659
4. Varuzhan Akobian 2653
5. Samuel Shankland 2632
Captain John Donaldson

Women’s (in rating order):
1. GM Irina Krush 2484
2. IM Anna Zatonskih 2466
3. IM Tatev Abrahamyan 2366
4. WGM Katerina Nemcova 2314
5. WGM Anna Sharevich 2275
Captain GM Melikset Khachiyan

Grandmasters Wesley So and Yury Shulman will be the team coaches.
__________
Jul 6, 2014
The Chess Federation of Canada has announced the lineups for the 41st Chess Olympiad in Tromsø, Norway.

National Team:
GM Bator Sambuev
GM Anton Kovalyov
GM Eric Hansen
IM Aman Hambleton
IM Leonid Gerzhoy
Captain FM Victor Plotkin

Women’s Team:
WIM Natalia Khoudgarian
WIM Yuanling Yuan
WIM Nava Starr
WFM Alexandra Botez
WCM Qiyu Zhou
Captain FM Jura Ochkoos

Hi Wayne,

I'm sure it's just an oversight: you listed the U.S. men's team members without their FIDE titles?

[Nigel Hanrahan]

Re: Visa Issue for 2014 Tromsø Chess Olympiad

Supplemental: This ruling of the Norwegian authorities seems to mainly make things difficult for chess players from Africa and possibly parts of Asia. The fact that the CEO of the Chess Olympiad specifically used an African example suggests that he is aware of the visa problem for chess players from that continent ... but, other than acknowledging the problem, has nothing much to say. Maybe it is "tit for tat" for some previous grievance (real or imagined).

[Miroslav Stefanovic]

Re: Visa Issue for 2014 Tromsø Chess Olympiad

Just like for Canada. If you need visa and don't have embassy around.. You travel to country where there is one.
Besides:

Who does not need a visa?
Citizens of countries that have agreements with Norway

Citizens of all EU/EEA countries
Citizens of the following countries outside the EU/EEA area:
Albania (applies to holders of biometric passports)
Andorra
Antigua and Barbuda
Argentina
Australia
Bahamas
Barbados
Bermuda (BDTC passports)
Bosnia and Herzegovina (applies to holders of biometric passports)
Brazil
Brunei
Canada
Chile
Costa Rica
Cyprus
El Salvador
Guatemala
Honduras
Hong Kong (SAR and BNO passports)
Israel
Japan
Korea (Republic of Korea)
Macau (SAR passports)
Macedonia (applies to holders of biometric passports)
Malaysia
Mauritius
Mexico
Moldova
Montenegro (applies to holders of biometric passport)
New Zealand
Nicaragua
Panama
Paraguay
San Marino
the Seychelles
Serbia (applies to holders of biometric passport)
Singapore
St. Kitts and Nevis
South Korea
Taiwan (holders of Taiwanese passports that contain an ID card number)
Uruguay
the USA
the Vatican City State
Venezuela

[Erik Malmsten]

Re: Visa Issue for 2014 Tromsø Chess Olympiad

Visa issue updated.

Basically, the organizers are saying that if your country does not have a Norwegian consular office, then you will have to personally travel to one that does.


In other words, you are on your own. Brutal.

ChessBase story ... Visa problems for the Chess Olympiad

I assume arbiters and our FIDE rep will also have to apply. I would expect regular tourists spectators don't have to apply (I didn't when I visited a long time ago), what about press?

Canada has Norwegian consulates in Ottawa, Toronto, Calgary http://norway.visacenter.ca/embassy

[Nigel Hanrahan]

Visa Issue for 2014 Tromsø Chess Olympiad

Visa issue updated.

Basically, the organizers are saying that if your country does not have a Norwegian consular office, then you will have to personally travel to one that does.

... one must appear at a Norwegian embassy to supply fingerprints. If Norway does not have an official office in a country, then one must go to the closest country with Norwegian ambassadorial representation. We fully understand that this is extremely frustrating if, for example, you are from Gambia and need to travel to Ghana to get a Norwegian visa.

The current problem is not that participants will not receive visas, but rather that they may be compelled to travel far to do so.

In other words, you are on your own. Brutal.

ChessBase story ... Visa problems for the Chess Olympiad

[Wayne Komer]

2014 Tromsø Chess Olympiad

Teams at the Chess Olympiad Tromso 2014

Russia

1. GM Grischuk Alexander - 2792
2. GM Kramnik Vladimir - 2783
3. GM Karjakin Sergey - 2771
4. GM Svidler Peter - 2753
5. GM Jakovenko Dmitry - 2736

Captain: GM Yury Dokhoian
Average Rating: 2767

Ukraine

1. GM Ivanchuk Vassily - 2738
2. GM Eljanov Pavel - 2723
3. GM Ponomariov Ruslan - 2723
4. GM Moiseenko Alexander - 2707
5. GM Korobov Anton - 2680

Captain: GM Oleksandr Sulypa
Average Rating: 2714

Armenia

1. GM Akopian Vladimir - 2667
2. GM Aronian Levon - 2815
3. GM Kotanjian Tigran - 2546
4. GM Movsesian Sergei - 2672
5. GM Sargissian Gabriel - 2686

Captain: GM Arshak Petrosian
Average Rating: 2677

England

1. GM Adams Michael - 2743
2. GM Short Nigel D - 2665
3. GM Jones Gawain - 2654
4. GM Sadler Matthew - 2653
5. GM Howell David - 2650

Captain: GM Peter K Wells
Average Rating: 2673

Norway I

1. GM Carlsen Magnus - 2881
2. GM Agdestein Simen - 2628
3. GM Hammer Jon Ludvig - 2628
4. GM Johannessen Leif Erlend - 2528
5. GM Lie Kjetil A. - 2528

Captain: Ole Christian Moen
Average Rating: 2639

France

1. GM Vachier-Lagrave Maxime - 2762
2. GM Bacrot Etienne - 2720
3. GM Fressinet Laurent - 2717
4. GM Edouard Romain - 2702
5. GM Tkachiev Vladislav - 2625

Captain: GM Sebastien Maze
Average Rating: 2705

Vishy Anand does not appear to be playing for India.

Source:

https://chess24.com/en/olympiad2014/teams/?language=en

[Wayne Komer]

Re: Re : 2014 Tromsø Chess Olympiad

USA Teams for the Chess Olympiad in Tromso
Jul 7, 2014

The United States Chess Federation has announced the lineups of Open and Women’s teams for the upcoming 41st Chess Olympiad in Tromsø, Norway.

Open (in rating order):
1. Hikaru Nakamura 2787
2. Gata Kamsky 2717
3. Alexander Onischuk 2659
4. Varuzhan Akobian 2653
5. Samuel Shankland 2632
Captain John Donaldson

Women’s (in rating order):
1. GM Irina Krush 2484
2. IM Anna Zatonskih 2466
3. IM Tatev Abrahamyan 2366
4. WGM Katerina Nemcova 2314
5. WGM Anna Sharevich 2275
Captain GM Melikset Khachiyan

Grandmasters Wesley So and Yury Shulman will be the team coaches.
__________
Jul 6, 2014
The Chess Federation of Canada has announced the lineups for the 41st Chess Olympiad in Tromsø, Norway.

National Team:
GM Bator Sambuev
GM Anton Kovalyov
GM Eric Hansen
IM Aman Hambleton
IM Leonid Gerzhoy
Captain FM Victor Plotkin

Women’s Team:
WIM Natalia Khoudgarian
WIM Yuanling Yuan
WIM Nava Starr
WFM Alexandra Botez
WCM Qiyu Zhou
Captain FM Jura Ochkoos

[Wayne Komer]

Re: Re : 2014 Tromsø Chess Olympiad

Visas for the Norway Olympiad

Team leaders are getting a letter from the Olympiad organizers which says in part:

According to our accreditation system your team needs to apply for Norwegian visa before you travel to Norway for the Chess Olympiad Tromso 2014.

We recommend that you apply for Norwegian visa at your earliest convenience.

The following link provides you with the information you need to apply for a visa:

http://www.udi.no/en/want-to-apply/?resetguide=1

Please fill in your citizenship, choose "visit and holiday", then "attend a cultural event or visit an organization" and press the button: "how to apply".

You will then be provided with the information you need to apply for the visa.

It is important that you remember to bring all the required documents with you upon visiting the Norwegian Embassy, otherwise you might have to return to the Embassy at a later time.

One of the documents you will have to bring with you when you visit the Norwegian Embassy is the official Chess Olympiad Tromso 2014 invitation letter.

Please find attached photocopies of visa invitation letters for your players.

We look forward to seeing you in Tromso in August!
_______________

You must get a Schengen Visa. What is it and how do you do this?

Schengen Visa - Norway (Type C) Visitor's visa to Norway Attend a cultural event or visit an organization

1. Gather the necessary documents as in the checklist below

a) You must pay an application fee. 60 Euro

b) You must have a passport that is valid for at least three months after the end of your visit. The passport must be issued within the last ten years.

c) You must have valid travel insurance. The insurance must cover necessary medical treatment and emergency hospital care; repatriation because of illness, injury or death; at least EUR 30,000; valid throughout the Schengen area and must be valid for the whole period you plan to stay in Norway or in the Schengen area.

d) You must have enough money to finance your stay in Norway and your return journey. You must normally have NOK 500 for each day of your stay in Norway. Alternatively, the person you will be visiting can give a financial guarantee.

You must not be subject to a prohibition against entry to Norway or Schengen. To have a prohibition against entry means that you have been expelled from Norway and are not allowed to enter the country.

e) If you have been in the Schengen area in the last 90 days, you must check when it is possible for you to re-enter, and how many days you can stay in Schengen. Please use the visa calculator to check this (ec.europa.eu).

The Schengen area comprises 27 European countries (The Schengen area consists of Belgium, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Greece, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Monaco, The Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Switzerland, Sweden, the Czech Republic, Germany, Hungary and Austria. There is normally no passport control on the borders between these countries. If you have a valid visa or residence permit in one of these countries, you can also visit the other Schengen countries.

f) If you are under the age of 18, both your parents or other persons responsible for you, must sign your application.

g) You must have an invitation from the person in charge of the event.
____________

What if you don't have a Norwegian Embassy in your country?

Further difficulties.

This letter from Kirsan to the Prime Minister of Norway today:

Moscow, 7 July 2014

H.E. Erna Solberg
Prime Minister
Norway
Oslo

Your Excellency,

I am approaching you in respect of the World Chess Olympiad which is scheduled to be held in Tromso, August 1-15.
When bidding for the Olympiad, Norway and the city of Tromso declared that all countries in the world will get visas to attend this worldwide event.

Now we are less than one month from the event and only recently we have learnt from several Federations who have no Norwegian Consulates in their country that they have to travel to another country to apply and collect their visas and moreover, each and every member of the respective team (sometimes 12-15 people) have to do it individually in person.

I would like to mention this has no precedents in the history of FIDE and probably not in any other sport. Needless to say that no one from the Organisers’ side has ever mentioned such a possibility as the common understanding between FIDE and them has been, as in previous Olympiads, that the Ministries of Foreign Affairs and Interior of the organising country coordinate this issue to avoid such unfortunate situations.

FIDE Secretariat has been receiving a considerable amount of letters of complaint from the Federations, which are unable to bear huge expenses of 15 persons travelling to another country (within the African continent, for example, or from Syria to another country).

Other Schengen countries allow people to collect visas from other Schengen countries that have embassies in the individual countries, thus sparing the cost of so many people travelling, but apparently Norway does not allow this.

So far, all our requests addressed to the Organising Committee of Tromso 2014 have been answered in the same manner, claiming that in spite their goodwill, they are unable to solve the problem.

I wonder whether this problem will be solved before the decision on the Winter Olympic Games 2022 is taken, and in case of a positive solution, whether it can also refer to the coming event in Tromso.

Your Excellency, I am approaching you with the request to use your authority to instruct relevant Norwegian institutions to find a way for solving the problem and avoiding a worldwide chaos.

Thank you so much.

Yours very truly.

Kirsan Ilyumzhinov
President

[Felix Dumont]

Re : 2014 Tromsø Chess Olympiad

Close to $15 000 (mostly by the FQE-CFC deal) have already been set aside for the Olympiads, so I don't think funding should be an issue (although it's always good to have more money).

[Andrei Botez]

I am not sure if Canada qualify for this, maybe it will because chess is not recognized as a sport in Canada - so no government funding.

Travel fund
Important message to the FIDE family:

On behalf of the Organizer of the 2014 Chess Olympiad in Tromsø, it is a pleasure to announce that a travel fund of up to € 600.000 will be made available to federations who wants to participate in the Olympiad.

The aim of the travel fund is to help those federations who are in need of financial support in order to send teams to Tromsø.

The Organizer will publish the details regarding the travel fund on the Olympic website no later than March 15. This will include the list of federations who can receive such support, the amount allocated to each team and other technical issues.

Tromsø, 17th February

Organizing Committee