Today is International Chess Day. 20th July 1924 was when FIDE, (Federation International d'Echecs) our governing body, was founded at the 1924 Paris Olympics. So FIDE is celebrating it's centenary today.
While initially a good thing with noble aspirations, FIDE has, like many other governing organisations, become corrupted and hampered by its own bureaucracy and large body of rules.
FIDE has been run by self enriching and self aggrandising individuals for too long while minorities and fringe groups are excluded and/or discouraged from involvement. The fact that the current FIDE President is Russian with ties to Putin, and that no action has been even suggested regarding the participation of Israel in FIDE events is typical of what FIDE has become. Meanwhile, trans players are banned and gender segregation still exists.
So Happy International Chess Day!!
#chess #InternationalChessDay #SocialHistory #inequality