Chess as an Olympic Sport: An Analysis

• Viswanathan Anand and Pravin Thipsay discuss the possibility of chess being an Olympic sport.
• Anand cites India’s historic double gold at the 2024 Chess Olympiad as a significant achievement.
• Thipsay argues that chess, despite being recognized by the IOC and FIDE, is not yet an Olympic sport.
• Anand notes the interest generated by the Indian contingent at the Sydney Olympics, indicating a desire for chess to be part of the Olympics.
• Thipsay suggests chess could be part of the Olympic Esports, a global virtual and simulated sports competition.
• The Indian Chess Olympiad, a significant event with a history of 100 years, attracts a large audience.
• Challenges include scheduling issues, potential name change, and the potential for chess to be renamed as World Team Championship.
• The Summer Olympics have better viewership than the Winter Olympics.
• The IOC may have decided on the size and number of games, and the Global Chess League could be a solution.