ECF condemnation of FIDE President

[David Robertson]

The story isn't being treated universally as a kick against chess, not if this item today from my local rag is a guide:

http://bit.ly/irytIJ

[Paul Cooksey]

The story isn't being treated universally as a kick against chess, not if this item today from my local rag is a guide:

http://bit.ly/irytIJ

"But think back to the Chess Club at your school. I bet they could not afford to be choosy about who joined, either"

I'm not hugely keen on the tone of the article

[Paul McKeown]

The story isn't being treated universally as a kick against chess, not if this item today from my local rag is a guide:

http://bit.ly/irytIJ

Gruesome. Give the nerds a kicking.

And some people think the ECF was wrong making a statement distancing themselves from Ilymuzhinov and FIDE?

Here, lets debag the freaks then flush their heads down the jacks...

[Roger de Coverly]

And some people think the ECF was wrong making a statement distancing themselves from Ilymuzhinov and FIDE?

In a British context, it was absolutely correct.

Even the IOC has been stirred into action according to the Telegraph

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/others ... utcry.html

[Matthew Turner]

We have all realised what a bad man Gaddafi is. How fortuous that we realised after we needed his money to stabilise our banks and before we owed him any dividends.
Professor Robertson might not be in a particularly strong position to comment on the Libyan regime. Here is snippet from the Independent, the whole article is here http://www.independent.co.uk/news/educa ... 45359.html

"Last week, The Independent revealed that Cambridge University had accepted more than £5m in funding from Oman and £8m from the House of Saud. Mr Halfon is also inquiring about an estimated £75m given to the Oxford Centre of Islamic Studies by a dozen Muslim countries and questioning links between Liverpool John Moores (JMU) University and Libya.

JMU was to earn £1.2m for delivering a degree programme at a Libyan university. It has defended the scheme as aiming to "improve the situation of the Libyan people". Durham University said its Middle East grants were "for projects ranging from studies of soil fertility to environmental sustainability, archaeological digs and cultural preservation". Joshua McKim, its deputy records manager, said: "Please note that the university and its students receive funding from countries across the globe, including the Middle East and North Africa. This is nothing new."

[Paul McKeown]

How fortuous that we realised after we needed his money to stabilise our banks and before we owed him any dividends.

A kleptocrat might think it "his money", but most people would see it as property taken with menaces. There is no question that British institutions will not honour obligations after Gadaffi is gone. Dividends will be paid, but to the Libyan people themselves through a representative and legitmate government of their own choosing.

JMU was to earn £1.2m for delivering a degree programme at a Libyan university. It has defended the scheme as aiming to "improve the situation of the Libyan people". Durham University said its Middle East grants were "for projects ranging from studies of soil fertility to environmental sustainability, archaeological digs and cultural preservation". Joshua McKim, its deputy records manager, said: "Please note that the university and its students receive funding from countries across the globe, including the Middle East and North Africa. This is nothing new.

Seems like a fair justification for an entirely ethical degree programme.

[Ben Purton]

British involvement in Middle East always goes well. We get involved and then have the audacity to blame the countries for the impacts of that involvement in a few years time.

[Matthew Turner]

Two rather interesting stories on the FIDE website today.

1. Ilyumzhinov meeting another Gaddafi to discuss 'Chess in Schools'
http://www.fide.com/component/content/a ... libya.html

2. Significant changes to the World Youth Championships
http://www.fide.com/component/content/a ... anges.html

[Roger de Coverly]

It appears the Western media is incorrectly reporting the end of Gaddafi's regime.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldne ... pound.html

[Matt Mackenzie]

"Russian chess master"???

Reporting standards up to their usual level regarding our great game, I see