FIDE president considers pushing chess into winter Olympics

What will it be like if chess is added into the Winter Olympic Games?

This is not a joke but genuine hope of International Chess Federation (FIDE) president Kirsan Ilyumzhinov.

He told Xinhua on Wednesday on the sideline of World Women Team Championship that chess can fit quite well in the Winter Olympics.

He said it has been about 20 years since FIDE applied to enter the Summer Games in vain which made them realize that joining the Winter Games might be a better idea.

As far as he concerned, it is prime time for chess competition in the afternoon when few Winter Olympics events are held. What's more, chess enjoy a huge fan base, much more than what the International Olympic Committee requests.

As for how chess is conneted to the Winter Games, Ilyumzhinov suggested players use chess pieces made by ice.

Chinese women's team coach Yu Shaoteng welcomed the idea.

"I think FIDE is trying hard to promote the sport in order to benefit more players. So I support his idea," said Yu.

"It is difficult for chess to be added to the Summer Games schedule. Perhaps there is a chance for us in the Winter Games," he added.

FIDE vice president Boris Kutin, however, considered it a far-fetched proposal.

"It's not easy," he said. Endi