Press release of the French Chess Federation
Bastia, 31st of October 2005
During its quarterly meeting in Bastia, the Board of Directors of the French Chess Federation has unanimously approved the candidacy of Leo Battesti in the upcoming FIDE Presidential election.
These elections will be held in Turin in May 2006 and will provide an opportunity to propose an alternative to the conservatism and standstill that currently prevails in FIDE.
New ideas, aimed at a mass development of chess in general and among younger players in particular, will be offered to national federations and enable a true promotion of chess.
Leo Battesti, who is the organiser of one of the most important international chess events (the Corsican Circuit) and is also Vice-President of the French Chess Federation, will strive to unite the men and women who work for chess on the five continents, and who place the sporting activity of chess above all other considerations.
This new initiative will be directed towards finding mainstream sponsors and partners who are attracted by the worldwide appeal of our sport. This will eventually, enable both professional and amateur chess players to be better served by an institution made by them and for them.
What do you think? Does Leo have a chance to defeat Kirsan Ilyumzhinov? Does anyone have a chance to defeat Kirsan Ilyumzhinov? If yes, who would be the most formidable candidate?
Communiqué de presse de la Fédération Française des Echecs
Le Comité Directeur de la Fédération Française des Echecs a décidé, à l’unanimité de ses membres, de proposer la candidature de Léo Battesti à la Présidence de la Fédération Internationale des Echecs.
Les élections qui auront lieu à Turin en Mai 2006, seront l’occasion de proposer une alternative au conservatisme et à l’immobilisme de la Fédération actuelle.
Des idées novatrices, préconisant une politique en direction de la masse et des jeunes en particulier et autorisant une autre assise pour le développement des Echecs au niveau international, seront proposées aux représentants de l’ensemble des fédérations.
Léo Battesti, organisateur de l’un des plus importants opens mondiaux (le Corsican Circuit) et vice-président de la FFE, aura pour mission de regrouper sur cinq continents des femmes et des hommes de terrain, privilégiant l’activité sportive échiquéenne sur toute autre considération.
Cet élan nouveau, qui aura pour tâche de solliciter des partenariats d’envergure séduits par le rayonnement de notre jeu, permettra à tous les professionnels et à tous les amateurs, d’être mieux servi par une institution faite par et pour eux.
http://chessbase.com/newsdetail.asp?newsid=2708
i think kirsan will strike a deal with leo … make him deputy president or something and win unopposed …
It takes a woman to defeat Kirsan!
It is long past time that Kirsan and his gang should be ousted from FIDE. Fide is nothing more than a money-laundering operation.
“Bath ball filter”?!
I think FIDE is a vital to organize and promote chess. However, some of the leadership (e.g., Kirsan) should be replaced with more progressive thinkers who are open to new ideas.
I think Leo or someone like Yassar Seirawan would be a better FIDE president than Kirsan.