Isle of Man in the Olympiad

[Roger de Coverly]

It would appear the British Isles have gained a seventh team in the Olympiad.

From https://en.chessbase.com/post/fide-gran ... sle-of-man

He said that the Isle of Man is now an affiliate member of FIDE and, as such, has a right to field a team at the upcoming chess Olympiad in Budapest in 2024, a goal achieved after 30 years of hard work.

[Matt Mackenzie]

Excellent news, maybe this will see a few other "non-national" entities do likewise (I know Greenland has been trying to get in)

[MJMcCready]

Guernsey have been in it a few times if memory serves me correctly.

[LawrenceCooper]

Guernsey have been in it a few times if memory serves me correctly.

Jersey too, including a women's team for the first time in 2022.

[Matt Mackenzie]

For a while Jersey and Guernsey sent a combined team, but went their separate ways after a few Olympiads.

[Roger de Coverly]

The FIDE rule on this used to be that you had to be a member Federation in order to send a team to the Olympiad. After Jersey and Guernsey (and historically Wales, Scotland and Bermuda) had become members, they made a rule that said the country in question had to have both United Nations membership and a national Olympic committee. They've now weakened it that it's "or" rather than "and" and also introduced a category of associate membership for territories such as the Isle of Man which cannot become UN members or have their own Olympic teams.

[Matt Mackenzie]

The FIDE rule on this used to be that you had to be a member Federation in order to send a team to the Olympiad. After Jersey and Guernsey (and historically Wales, Scotland and Bermuda) had become members, they made a rule that said the country in question had to have both United Nations membership and a national Olympic committee. They've now weakened it that it's "or" rather than "and" and also introduced a category of associate membership for territories such as the Isle of Man which cannot become UN members or have their own Olympic teams.

There were also Hong Kong and Macau, plus Puerto Rico and various non-sovereign Caribbean territories.

[Kevin Thurlow]

"For a while Jersey and Guernsey sent a combined team, but went their separate ways after a few Olympiads."

It wasn't an entirely happy time. When six players went, the captain (from Jersey) said, "I have selected my five Jersey players, who is your one?" So the agreement to have a joint team was terminated. Guernsey played in the next Olympiad as they contacted FIDE and asked to be members in their own right, (which was agreed) but Jersey had their entry refused, as they had not contacted FIDE to ask to be members in their own right...

However, there has subsequently been a CI team in 4NCL so relations are more cordial now.

[MJMcCready]

The British Isles should have more teams in the Olympiad, what about Anglesey or Canvey Island?

[Paul McKeown]

introduced a category of associate membership for territories such as the Isle of Man which cannot become UN members or have their own Olympic teams.

I'm pretty sure that the Isle of Man could seek full independence and UN membership if that was the wish of its population.

I think these rules are to accommodate self-governing dependent territories, e.g. Greenland which has been quoted above.

[Matt Mackenzie]

The British Isles should have more teams in the Olympiad, what about Anglesey or Canvey Island?

Totally unserious post.

[MJMcCready]

Humorous is a better word.

[Matt Mackenzie]

Humour is a very subjective thing.

[Christopher Kreuzer]

"For a while Jersey and Guernsey sent a combined team, but went their separate ways after a few Olympiads."

It wasn't an entirely happy time. When six players went, the captain (from Jersey) said, "I have selected my five Jersey players, who is your one?" So the agreement to have a joint team was terminated. Guernsey played in the next Olympiad as they contacted FIDE and asked to be members in their own right, (which was agreed) but Jersey had their entry refused, as they had not contacted FIDE to ask to be members in their own right...

However, there has subsequently been a CI team in 4NCL so relations are more cordial now.

Interesting bit of Guernsey and Jersey history there!

And both 'nations' are competing in the European Small Nations Team Championships right now:

https://chess24.com/en/watch/live-tourn ... 2023/7/1/1

Be honest, who really knew that was a thing?

The Small Nations are:

Andorra
Faroe Islands
Luxembourg
Malta
Monaco
Cyprus
Liechtenstein
San Marino
Jersey
Guernsey

Sadly, our heroes prop up the foot of the table at the moment.

No Isle of Man, yet!

Apparently it is the 8th time this event has taken place:

https://www.europechess.org/european-sm ... in-jersey/

I'll be honest and say this is the first time I had heard of it.