New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday launched the first-ever torch relay at the Indira Gandhi stadium here for the 44th Chess Olympiad that will be held in July-August. The ceremony was also attended by Union Minister of Sports and Youth Affairs Anurag Thakur, International Chess Federation President Arkady Dvorkovich and All Indian Chess Federation President Sanjay Kapoor.
Speaking at the event PM Modi said: "Our ancestors invented the games like Chaturanga & Chess for the analytical development of the brain. Children who play Chess are becoming good problem-solvers. In the last 8 yrs, India has improved its performance in Chess."
PM Modi wished the best to all the players of the Chess Olympiad.
Talking about policies in field of sports PM Modi said, "schemes like Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS) and Khelo India are working towards long term success. We are witnessing results of it as well. Youths are excelling in every sports. We saw global sporting events like Olympics and Paralympics where Indian athletes performed well, breaking old records and setting new records."
"We are working with a target towards 2024 Paris Olympics and 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. Under TOPS scheme several athletes are being supported," he added.
"In this 44th Chess Olympiad, over 2000 players from 188 countries will participate. Till now no torch relay happened in Chess Olympiad but FIDE (International Chess Federation) took the decision to do a torch relay for the first time from India," said Union Minister Anurag Thakur.
FIDE had said the Olympiad torch relay would always begin from India — the land from which the sport originated from and will travel across all continents before reaching the host city.