FIDE President visited UAE where in Sharjah city he participated in the opening of Sharjah Chess and Cultural Center. At the opening also present were Sheikh Saoud Bin Abdul Aziz Al Mualla, the Ruler of Sharjah Sheikh Sultan bin Mohammed Al-Qasimi, and Continental President for Asia Sheikh Sultan Bin Khalifa Al-Nehyan.
The next day Asian Boys & Girls U20 Championship started in Sharjah Club. The participants of the opening ceremony were the FIDE President, Continental President for Asia Sheikh Sultan Bin Khalifa Al-Nehyan, President of Arab Chess Federation Ibrahim Al Bannai, President of Sharjah Chess and Cultural Club Sheikh Saoud Bin Mualla, and the Head of Ruler’s Administration.
70 chess player from 19 countries will participate in the championship. This is the first official event in the newly opened Chess Club of Sharjah. It impresses by its style and architecture. There is a Regional Office of FIDE in the premises of Sharjah Club. FIDE President and other high rank guests cut the symbolic red ribbon; having looked over the new office they left the notes in the Guests book.
On March 29, the FIDE President met with the UAE’s Minister of Culture, Youth and Community Development, H.E. Sheikh Nahayan Mabarak Al-Nehyan who was assigned to this post a couple of days ago. President Ilyumzhinov congratulated Sheikh Nehyan and wished him success on this responsible post. FIDE President noted that in UAE a great attention is paid to the development of sports and the positive positioning of the country by holding major sports events and championships as well as to preservation and support of rich cultural traditions. Both parties discussed the issues of mutual cooperation.