On February 14th the FIDE President arrived on a working visit to Luanda. In the airport he was met by the President of Angola Chess Federation, Mr. Aguinaldo Jaime, and other officials of chess federation. A short press conference for the local media was held at the airport. The same day President Ilyumzhinov met with the State Secretary of Ministry for Higher Education Ms. Maria Augusta da Silva Martins and the Minister of Youth and Sports Mr. Gonçalves Manuel Muandumba. At the meetings the leaders discussed the possibility of mutual cooperation, in particular, the training of specialists in the Russian sports universities, rendering the methodological and systematic assistance on CiS programme, holding the seminars for arbiters, trainers and organizers.



President of Angola Chess Federation, Mr. Aguinaldo Jaime, and FIDE President, Mr. Kirsan Ilyumzhinov, are discussing the programme of meetings


Short press conference for local media

Also Kirsan Ilyumzhinov together with the leadership of Angola CF visited the office of the National Olympic Committee of Angola, met with the President of Angolan NOC Mr. Gustavo Dias Vaz da Conceicao, General Secretary of Angolan NOC Mr. Antonio Monteiro and its Technical Director Mr. Domingos Torres Junior. At the meeting also present was the Honorary member of FIDE Mr. Rogerio da Silva.
FIDE President informed on his meetings with the Minister of Higher Education and the Minister of Youth and Sports, as well as on the assiduity undertaken by FIDE to be a part of Olympic programme. The President of Angolan NOC supported the idea of chess concentration in Winter Olympic Games. He said that such decision will open new era for developing chess sport in African and Asian countries. He emphasized on the role of Angolan CF that was at the background of forming the Angolan NOC 35 years ago.
President Gustavo Conceicao expressed the readiness to send the supporting letter to the President of IOC Mr. Thomas Bach on inclusion of chess into the programme of Olympic Games.


Meeting in the office of Angolan NOC





Meeting with the State Secretary of Ministry for Higher Education Ms. Maria Augusta da Silva Martins. At the meeting also present were the leaders of Angolan CF headed by Dr. Aguinaldo Jaime and General Director of Ministry of Education Mr. Jesus Joaquim Baptista.


Meeting with the Minister of Youth and Sports Mr. Gonçalves Manuel Muandumba



With the Ambassador of Russia in Angola Mr. Dmitry Lobachev


With the Honorary member of FIDE Mr. Rogerio da Silva


National Olympic Committee of Angola


With the President of Angolan CF Dr. Aguinaldo Jaime


February 15th: Meeting with the leadership of Angolan Chess Federation. The memorandum between FIDE and Angolan CF has been discussed. It will be published on both websites. The meeting was followed by a press conference for Angolan media.


February 16th: FIDE President arrived to Abuja, Nigeria.


Press conference for Nigerian media. Present: FIDE Zone 4.4 President Mr. Sani Muhammed, former President of Nigerian CF Mr. Emmanuel Omuku, and the leadership of Nigerian CF.


Meeting with the President of Nigerian NOC Mr. Sani Mohammed Ndanusa. On behalf of African sportsmen he expressed their wish to be represented at chess competitions in the programme of Winter Olympic Games.