To the participants of the 39th Chess Olympiad and the 81st FIDE Congress Dear friends!
I am pleased to welcome you at the opening ceremony of the most important chess forum!
The representatives of 160 countries have arrived to Khanty-Mansiysk. The players will demonstrate their skill and strength of character in tense matches for the main team trophy in chess, while the delegates of national federations will discuss various working issues and elect the FIDE leadership for the next four years. The fact that Russia hosts such important events is another confirmation of high authority of our chess school.
I am confident that the results of the 39th Chess Olympiad and the 81st FIDE Congress will assist promotion of chess and create new contacts in sport as an important part of international cooperation. I wish you all success and best of luck.
Dmitry Medvedev
President of the Russian Federation