World chess body votes to allow Russian, Belarusian youth players to compete under national symbols
International Chess Federation says its decision 'in line with International Olympic Committee recommendations,' adds their use in adult team competitions to be decided after future consultations
File Photo
ISTANBUL
The governing body for world chess has voted to allow Russian and Belarusian youth players to compete under their national symbols in line with recommendations from the International Olympic Committee (IOC), it announced.
An International Chess Federation (FIDE) statement on Sunday said its general assembly passed two resolutions during its online meeting earlier in the day, one proposed by Russia’s Chess Federation and the other by the FIDE Council.
“Both resolutions referenced recent decisions and recommendations by the International Olympic Committee regarding players from Russia and Belarus,” the statement said, noting that they differ on the technical details of the use of national symbols in adult team competitions.
The Russian Chess Federation resolution called for immediately reinstating the flags and anthems of both countries across all competitions, it said.
FIDE’s statement said its council will immediately implement points of consensus found in both resolutions in line with IOC recommendations and “the most recent guidance from the Olympic Summit on access to sport and political neutrality."
It went on to say that the FIDE Council considers its resolution to be "in force immediately as the baseline for operations" in order to respect the validity of both votes.
According to the statement, this means that Russian and Belarusian teams will now be admitted to their tournaments, restrictions on holding FIDE events in Belarus have been lifted, and the use of national symbols will be allowed in youth and junior competitions.
“Regarding the specific divergence on symbols in adult events, the Council will execute the mandate included in the Council resolution to consult with the International Olympic Committee,” it said, adding it will make a final determination on the matter following the consultations.
Russian and Belarusian athletes have faced widespread bans from major sporting events since the start of the Ukraine war in February 2022. Belarus has been Russia’s closest ally in the war, which is nearing the four-year mark.
In March 2022, FIDE announced that it had suspended Russia and Belarus from participating in official FIDE tournaments until further notice, “taking into account the current recommendations of the IOC.”
