Tromso Olympiad 2014

[Jonathan Livingstone]

Well done, Alex :ymapplause:

+1

[hamish olson]

Fantastic!

[Linda McCusker]

Well done, Alex :ymapplause:

+1

+2

[Matthew Turner]

Some interesting reports coming out of Norway about the Olympiad

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These sort of reports

Worst-case scenario for @Tromso2014 now is that the event will be cancelled and hosted somewhere else, with their money. Decision within May

[Hugh Brechin]

Crumbs. What's gone wrong?

[George Murphy]

ChessVibes is quite interesting on this.

The Norwegian government is presented as playing hardball as regards budgeting because the Norwegian Chess Federation had to stage the World Cup 2013 without sufficient or timely notice from FIDE. The World Championship match is also caught up apparently.

Hard to credit that this can't be sorted given Carlsen's status/crown. But, it will be interesting to see how the logjam is broken.

[Andy Howie]

I had a feeling this would make its way onto here. Wasn't disappointed.

I am in contact with FIDE at the moment on this. As soon as we know anything we will let the players know and then I'll post here.

Given the level of compensation that will be due players who have already booked their flights, I have a feeling this will be resolved

[amuir]

Chessbase:

Aulin-Jansson explained that a significant part of the problem stems from the record interest in the event. "When we sent the application we expected 140-150 nations. Now it's 181 nations. There has never in history been near that many."

They now must try to drum up more money from sponsors or other sources. More than 2,000 participants from 181 countries are expected to travel to Tromsø for the Olympiad due to begin August 1. The local government owns 90 percent of the shares in the company formed to host the Chess Olympiad, with the federation owning the other 10 percent. Its chairman, Hans Olav Karde, said it was now in “a very difficult situation.”

[George Murphy]

I see an Addendum has been attached to the Chessbase report:

Addendum: We [i.e. Chessbase] have spoken to ogranisers and Chess Federation contacts in Norway and did not find the mood pessimistic or gloomy. They are working hard on a solution, and the prediction is that the Olympiad will go ahead as planned.

PS Lobbying often entails a degree of hyperbole or PR aspects.

I know nothing about Norway/public opinion there other than a glimpse I obtained in a departure lounge of a certain Scottish airport in Autumn last year ahead of the Anand v Carlsen match. A Norwegian transit passenger knew exactly who I was referring to, when I mentioned Carlsen's prospects in the match. ' Oh,' she said, 'you think so? He's very famous in Norway. Everyone has heard of him! A win would be great (for Norway).'

[Andy Howie]

I've had a response from FIDE, there is going to be an announcement from them today on this. My prediction will be it is on. With the deficit being relatively low I can see FIDE stepping in to make sure it happens