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PRESS RELEASE
The Board of Directors of the French Chess Federation,
reunited, Saturday, June 15, in Paris, has decided, unanimously, to commission
its President, Jean-Claude Loubatière, to propose an alternative
direction to the present leadership of FIDE.
The functioning of FIDE today is unworthy of
an International Sporting Federation.
The President visibly has his mind on other
things than Chess and decisions are taken by a small court, more interested in
its privileges than the smooth running of FIDE.
There are no more real exchanges with the
National Federations. The President’s letter, the FIDE Forum and the FIDE
Handbook have progressively disappeared, and the administration has slackened.
The organisation of the Youth Championships
takes place in an environment of general indifference. The best players are
less and less interested by traditional important events like the Olympiad. The
rules of competitions change all the time, destabilising Continental
Championships. And a new time control was imposed without the slightest
consultation with the top players and the National Federations.
Today, there is no more political will and
no real prospect of development. The only positive aspect is the reunification
plan for the World Championship thanks to the initiative of Yasser Seirawan.
This plan should be brought to fruition under the best conditions.
It is true that the personal wealth of the
President, nevertheless of questionable origin, has permitted the organisation
of the World KO Championships and the Grand Prix. But, seven years later, we
can only see that they have done nothing to further Chess development.
The media has completely ignored these
events, speaking more easily of the problems with Kasparov or the law suits of
Karpov or Zsuzsa Polgar.
The financial situation is still very
worrying. In spite of the paltry services rendered, FIDE has increased the
charges of the National Federations, putting into financial difficulty a
certain number of them.
The creation of shell companies, signing
contracts with FIDE for 20 years (World Chess Foundation), or for 30 years
(FIDE Commerce), without ever honouring them, stands witness to inadmissible
practices in a serious Sporting Federation.
All of this gives an intolerable image for
Chess, keeps away the media, discourages investment and sponsors, and soils the
oldest and most noble of games.
This situation is well known to amateurs and
to the National Federations. It would be irresponsible to let it continue for
four more years.
The specialised press will know how to create a strong
international awareness.
The French Chess Federation calls for the
mobilisation of the National Federations in favour of change during the
elections, next November, in Bled.
The time has come to form a team
representing the 5 continents, motivated only by the good of Chess and capable
to respond to the immense expectations of the Chess World.
Montpellier, June 18, 2002
Contact:
French Chess Federation : Tel.: ++33 (0) 4
67 60 02 22
Fax: ++33 (0) 4 67 60 02 25
E-mail: ffe.president@online.fr
The views expressed here do not necessarily reflect those of
TWIC, Chess & Bridge Ltd or the London Chess Center. |