Open Letter on Ilyumzhinov’s Visit to Chicago (details here and here)
By Bill Hall
May 2, 2012
To: the FIDE Presidential Board
Re: Open Letter in objection to the recent Chicago visit
Dear FIDE Leadership Team,
The USCF Executive Board passed a motion this morning, with a vote of 7-0, directing me to convey our concerns related to FIDE President Kirsan Ilyumzhinov’s recent activities in Chicago, Illinois. The text of the motion is below:
The USCF is deeply concerned about FIDE President Ilyumzhinov’s recent visit to Chicago and the resulting press coverage on the FIDE website, due to the fact that President Ilyumzhinov discussed a US National Championship event with Chicago organizers without USCF participation. Put simply, this is a step in the wrong direction as it shows a complete disregard as it shows a complete disregard for the authority of all national federations and is against the interests of the great game of chess, both worldwide and in the United States.
We were surprised and disappointed that FIDE did not use this visit by President Ilyumzhinov as an opportunity to work with USCF as a partner. We wish to make it clear that we expect any future discussion relating to FIDE Involvement in a US-based project must include approval by and integral involvement of the USCF.
The only persons authorized to represent the USCF in negotiations with FIDE on matters involving chess are President Ruth Haring, Executive Director Bill Hall, FIDE Delegate Michael Khodarkovsky and Zonal President Francisco Guadalupe.
FIDE’s motto is “Gens una summas” or “We are one family.” In that spirit, the USCF sent a large delegation to the 2011 FIDE Congress in Krakow, Poland, expending significant resources to strengthen the relationship between FIDE and the USCF. To this end, we expect FIDE to respect the rights of the national federations and remember its own motto. In the future, we fully expect FIDE to seek approval from the appropriate USCF officials of the United States national federation, as designated herein pertaining to any and all planned chess related activities in the United States.
Sincerely,
Bill Hall
Source: http://main.uschess.org
Maybe because FIDE hates the USCF? Hmmmm. Is it possible?
Who cares what the bozos at the USCF think? Ilyumzhinov was in Chicago for official business. Why can’t he visit any club he wishes during his free time? More stupidity by the USCF politicians. And they wonder why FIDE has no respect for them?
What an arrogant and condescending letter. What right the USCF have to tell a FIDE President which club he can visit or who he can play chess with?
I guess nobody reads Chessbase news articles.
Stupid chess politicians.
um…haha.
Mike Magnan
With all due respect. Perhaps Mr Hall did not handle this “slight” in a correct way. The open letter simply makes the USCF look foolish and I know a lot of decent people who work there and are above such nonsense. Why they’re so worried about a guy bunking with khadaffi and this week in Siria is beyond me. Everyone knows what the Fide President is…so why make such a fuss about someone who’s Alien leaders didn’t pick up a phone and call …For heavens sake…forget about it. But please…keep up the Humourus outrages….they’re funny to watch.