The Opening ceremony of the 39th World Chess Olympiad will remain in the heart of its guests and participants

The official opening ceremony of the 39th World Chess Olympiad took place late Monday evening in Complex “Arena Ugra” of Khanty-Mansiysk. It united about 5000 guests on its stands. They witnessed an astonishingly beautiful and from time to time even breath-taking performance. A bright laser show, national dances and finally its top moment – the legendary game Andersen –Kizeritsky, that was played on a huge chess board with “alive pieces”, was presented to the spectators of the show.
It was followed by the welcoming video message of the Russian Federation President Dmitry Medvedev that was broadcast for the attention of all the guests from a huge screen. After the participants and the organizers of the Olympiad were welcomed by the FIDE President Kirsan Ilyumzhinov, the Assistant to the Russian Federation President and the Russian Chess Federation Supervisory Council Chairman Arkady Dvorkovich and the Head of Khanty-Mansiysk Municipality Andrey Bukarinov.
The Chief Arbiter of the Olympiad Sava Stoisavljevic conducted the official procedure of drawing of colors for the first round assisted by “alive kings and queens”.
The 39th World Chess Olympiad is open! Good luck!
Photo gallery of the Opening Ceremony.