FIDE Online Olympiad 22 July to 30 August 2020

[Kevin Thurlow]

I'm sad to note the absence of our dear Channel Islands.

[Simon Rogers]

No Isle of Man either.
What does IPCA stand for?

[IM Jack Rudd]

International Physically Disabled Chess Association

[Simon Rogers]

Thanks.
I notice that New Zealand is ranked 95.
Their board 1 is former Lancashire player Ben Hague who is also now an FM.

[Roger de Coverly]

No Isle of Man either.

The Isle of Man is not a member of FIDE, not is it allowed to be. The same applies to Gibraltar. Jersey, Guernsey (and Bermuda) got their membership in before the rules changed. FIDE made it a rule for new membership that a territory whose chess Federation sought FIDE membership had to be capable of having a national Olympic association which was only permitted if the territory was or could be a member of the United Nations.

[Matt Mackenzie]

That also explains why Hong Kong and the Faeroes are members (and regular past Olympiad participants) but Greenland isn't (and isn't)

[Simon Rogers]

Thanks. Why hasn't Northern Ireland entered?

[J T Melsom]

Although Palestine has been recognised by the IOC but not the United Nations. Nor does it have associate status with UNESCO. I believe that the IOC admission of a National Olympic Committee depends on the applicant having already been accepted by a number of other sports governing bodies.

[Roger de Coverly]

Why hasn't Northern Ireland entered?

Northern Ireland isn't a member of FIDE. Parallel to Rugby Union, but unlike Association Football, the Irish Chess Union covers the whole island.

[Matt Mackenzie]

There is some sort of Ulster Chess Association IIRC, but not sure how "official" their status is (if at all)

[A.Kluckova]

2020 FIDE Online Olympiad Entries
Organizer(s) FIDE
Federation FIDE ( FID )
Chief Arbiter IA Holowczak, Alex R 418668

[David Sedgwick]

2020 FIDE Online Olympiad Entries
Organizer(s) FIDE
Federation FIDE ( FID )
Chief Arbiter IA Holowczak, Alex R 418668

Many congratulations to Alex Holowczak on this prestigious appointment.

Alex heads a distinguished team of 14 arbiters (including him). Congratulations also to Shohreh Bayat, who is one of the others.

I didn't make the long list of 145 arbiters from whom the 14 were chosen. I like to think that that indicates that the competition was quite intense.

[A.Kluckova]

Shohreh Bayat was the Chief Arbiter of FIDE WOMEN`S WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH 2020 Ju Wenjun vers. Aleksandra Goryachkina.

That's the reason l made visible the success of Alex Holowczak . He is a Chief Arbiter of 2020 FIDE Olympiad with 163 teams all together . In an online version . Hard for arbiters, also for players.

[David Sedgwick]

Shohreh Bayat was the Chief Arbiter of FIDE WOMEN`S WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH 2020 Ju Wenjun vers. Aleksandra Goryachkina.

Indeed so. It was an event which changed the course of her life.

I have highlighted the appointment for the Online Olympiad of the two arbiters who are ECF members.

[Paul Cooksey]

FIDE seems not to have announced the "Hosting Internet Platform" yet.

I'm not sure how keen I would be to be involved if I was a commercial chess site, given the probability of fair play controversy.