IN THE 2006 World Chess Olympiad in Torino, Italy, there was a controversy about Palau's proxy vote for FIDE President.
The Palau Chess Federation had given their proxy vote to former and honorary lifetime president of FIDE Florencio Campomanes. He visited Palau in May 11-14, 2006.
But the opposition camp of Mr. Gary Bekker has asked for another proxy vote. After the problem has been resolved, Palau proxy had been finally given to Mr. Casto "Toti" Abundo, the Deputy President of Asian Chess Federation.
The same thing happened in the final week of 2008 World Chess Olympiad in Dresden, Germany when Mr. Campomanes has asked for proxy of Palau to vote in the FIDE Congress that coincides with the Olympiad.
An earlier letter was sent to Mr. Jan Berglund confirming him as the official Delegate of Palau.
He was hired in January to act as Palau Delegate and has done his job superbly despite financial problems that led to eventual withdrawal of Palau men team and the denied participation of Palau women's team that's composed of professional and retired teachers from British Virgin Islands.
Mr. Berglund was still able to represent Palau in the Congress and Asian Continental Meeting and Toti voted for Palau in the selection of the Chess Olympiad site in 2012 where Budva in Montenegro and Istanbul in Turkey are the last 2 remaining contenders to host the prestigious event.
Istanbul won a clear victory by unofficial 92-40 votes among 152 participating nations, which is a record in Olympiad.
Mr. Berglund also submitted a budget proposal for Palau for 2008-2010 for Administration, 3 Annual Invitational Tournaments 2008-2010, Participation in FIDE tournaments 2008-2010 School program where the 4 teachers for British Virgin Islands will come to Palau to teach chess in 10 schools in Palau.
Their school work in Palau is honorary as well as Mr. Berglund's, whose contract will expire at the end of November.
His contract will be renewed as his dedication to help in chess development in Palau is very sincere.
The amount of the proposed budget is 170,00r 0.00 euros and will be delivered to CACDEC as Chess in Schools, Asian Chess Federation and the Oceania Zone President with the idea of receiving a portion of the expenses from each one of them.
The Asian Chess Federation President Sheik Sultan Bin Khalifa Al-Nehyan says that he might be able to find some solution for the airfares while FIDE Chess In Schools chairman Professor Uvencio Blanco will be visiting South East Asia in June 2009 according to an already existing plan. After negotiations, he has now added Palau to be visited during this trip.
At the end of 2008 World Chess Olympiad, Armenia retained the title that they won for the first time in 2006 Torino, Italy Chess Olympiad.
Israel got the silver medal and USA the bronze. The surprise team is Vietnam, which finished 7th. The Philippines' best placed finish is also 7th, in the 1998 Chess Olympiad in Thessalonica, Greece.
The original chess team of Palau to the Olympiad held a blitz chess contest on Sunday night at Jean's Boutique and Store with Palau no. 1 Menandro Manuel reasserted his supremacy by topping the event over NM Manny Nedic, Cyril Montel, Jr., Roberto Hernandez, Gene Pastrana and Dennis Lara.
The participation of Hernandez became possible because he is on annual leave till the end of November. Another blitz chess contest might be held on Nov. 30.
Hernandez won the Palau Royal Resort theme songwriting contest held on November 24 with his rendition of his original composition of "That Is Origin8" with the singing and dancing performance of his co-department PRR beauties Lorna Castaneto, Ella Asuncion and Shirin Dy.
Source: Chessmate by Roberto Hernandez
Tia Belau Newspaper
Pages 13 & 15
Volume 17
December 01-07, 2008
No comments:
Post a Comment