Programme Director
President of CHESSA, Ms Emilia Ellapen
Vice President, Adv. Lyndon Bouah, and members of the Executive of CHESSA
Distinguished guests
Ladies and gentlemen
It is with great pleasure and pride that I am here today to open the seventeenth edition of the Commonwealth Chess Championships, and to celebrate the first occasion that the event has been held in South Africa or indeed anywhere on the African continent.
This is the first time that an African country has hosted an official event sanctioned by FIDE, the world chess federation. With seven grandmasters, seven hundred competitors and twenty countries represented, this is easily the most significant chess event ever to be held on this continent.
This is an outstanding achievement that should be celebrated, and I believe it not only highlights the rise in chess in South Africa, but it also heralds a promising future for the sport in Africa.
Chess continues to take significant strides and this is a product not only of the tireless efforts of the chess community, but also the support of our Government which is committed to the pursuit of chess excellence and its ongoing development in our country.
Our President, His Excellency Jacob Zuma, is a keen supporter of chess and an avid enthusiast for the game.
He has personally endorsed the efforts of Chess South Africa and Moves for Life which will anchor chess as a key educational tool in our schools.
The Department of Sport and Recreation has recently recognised chess as one of six key sporting codes in South Africa and this can only bode well for its continued growth. Our Government is committed to supporting and working with players and organisers alike to help chess in our country continue to grow from strength to strength, and events such as this championship are very important to this process.
South Africa has enjoyed significant success with a number of large international sporting events such as the 2010 Football World Cup, and the success of these events has greatly increased South Africa’s standing in the international sports arena. I have high hopes that South African chess follows this fine tradition.
It is my sincere hope that it won't be too long before South Africa can claim its first chess grandmaster, and its first chess champion of the Commonwealth.Perhaps at least one of these will be achieved in this very fortnight!
But enough of politics; you are of course here today not to listen to me, but to get right in to the fun and competition of the sport that will occupy your minds for the next ten days.
Iwish all of you the very best of luck, exciting games, brilliant victories, important lessons, and of course, new friendships. Particularly to our foreign guests, I would urge you, in addition to battling over the board and pieces, to also try to enjoy this great country of ours.
South Africa is a proud nation, rich in culture, in history, and in unparalleled natural beauty, and I encourage you to take the time to explore our country and immerse yourself in our way of life.
Pease allow me to briefly announce some other major events my Department is involved in. From 4th -9th July 2011, eThekwini will host the 123rd IOC Session. Sport and Recreation South Africa (SRSA) is coordinating Government’s support of this event that is locally organised by the South African Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee (SASCOC).
Apart from the meetings of the IOC Executive and its membership, the winning bid for the 2018 Winter Olympic Games will be announced to the rest of the world. This is a high profile event that will certainly boost the image of eThekwini and sport tourism in KwaZulu-Natal.
Sport & Recreation South Africa is delighted to be part of this major event, and is looking forward to working with SASCOC and the City of Durban in ensuring a very successful 123rd IOC Session.
Ladies and Gentlemen, there is a new international drive to utilize the potential of tourism, sport and mega events to the benefit of countries and mankind world-wide. SRSA, in partnership with SA Tourism and Thebe Exhibitions Group will be co-hosting a Sport Event and Tourism Exchange Exhibition in Cape Town
This is the firs time such an important and major sport tourism event will be held on the African continent. The Sports & Events Tourism Exchange conference and exhibition, which will be held between 27 and 29 July at the International Convention Centre in Cape Town, aims to capitalise on the impetus created around sports events like The Confederations Cup and the FIFA World Cup. SETE will provide exhibitors and visitors with a unique platform to network and interact with both local and international industry leaders.
Finally, I must inform you that SRSA will be holding a National Sport and Recreation Indaba of all stakeholders of our sport and recreation sector in South Africa in September 2011. At this indaba, we will finalise and adopt the National Sports Plan that will form a comprehensive blueprint for sport development and high performance sport in this country. In preparation, all nine provinces will be holding their provincial sport indabas on the 16th July 2011.
In all its endeavours SRSA will pursue the vision of a transformed sport society and to this end, the Department will continue to use sport as a mechanism to realising the critical government priorities of fostering an inclusive citizenship, physical well-being, skills development, economic growth leading to job creation.
For now, though, let me once again welcome you all to this fantastic and important chess event for South Africa and the world, and warmly pronounce the 17th Commonwealth Chess Championships open.
I thank you!
