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Final Report About FIDE Reform
Action Committee for a Democratic FIDE
Villa Wadwerda, Wadwerderweg 89 Our temporary website Action Committee for a Democratic FIDE, a dedicated website strictly devoted to FIDE - Reform will be appear on the internet after the Chess Olympics. Yours sincerely, Kaarlo Schepel – spokesperson See also: The New Clothes of the Emperor = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = The old saying is that there are three kinds of people: (a) Those who make things happen; (b) Those who see things happen; and (c) Those who wonder what is going on. If the reader thinks that the pages below are too much work or too much information, we kindly suggest that you read the short version (posted on 23 August) [ED. - The New Clothes of the Emperor]. If you have the ambition of moving from (c) to (b) or even (a) in FIDE affairs, we expect that all the material below is an education.
If you are truly interested in the future of FIDE, then you should read all that was discussed at the 74th FIDE Congress Executive Board meeting in Greece 2003 (Minutes and Annexes), which can be found and down-loaded from the following website: http://www.fide.com/news.asp?id=290&show=1
Before those in authority in FIDE read on, we wish to ask for their indulgence, and at the same time impose on their sense of humour. In this respect we like to refer to the website of the President of FIDE http://kirsan.kalmykia.ru/engl/komiks.htm where it is apparent that at least some of those in authority listen or relate to criticism and humour (even if they seldom act on it). We intend to call a spade a spade. And we remind everyone that in times of crisis it does not pay to be silent. However, we do not want to hurt the reputation of anyone, and ask them to consider two Dutch sayings "Tall trees catch a lot of wind" and "If you play fives (= kaatsen), be prepared to get the ball." And we are ready to take as good as we give. If you want to insult us in return, you are most welcome, as long as it is the truth. And the truth we try to give ourselves. If in the process some of the current FIDE icons are reduced to slightly more human proportions, then we think this can only benefit the future of chess.
In re-orientating Fide to the future of world chess, it is necessary we submit, to establish modern professional competencies in the six departments, so that future matters of chess development and chess management can be addressed by people well qualified to do so.
Therefore, this writing is not principally an agenda for a future Fide, but the sober means to evaluate such a future agenda. We think that once a new basis for decision making and administration has been put before the public, then a new agenda can also be proposed with great confidence in the result.
It is important in our honest opinion to suggest to all readers that from a psychological basis, there is a need for a forward-looking agenda with a positive magnetism, rather than simply a call to reject a failed status-quo (some say dictatorial) which came into place by monetary means. Delegates wanted a radical change in 1995, were promised a solution to financial problems that appeared to drown FIDE, and then gave their allegiance to an unknown 'politician'. They got more than they bargained for: time-controls for professional chess no one wanted, no unification and no say in important affairs.
That FIDE is in financial straights is apparent from its own documents and clear from the heated discussions that have been going on within FIDE since the President stopped funding all deficits in 2003, actually just after his 'reelection in Bled'. We refer to the following Annexes (see direct address above), also accessible through the www.fide.com website for details:
The main concern of fiscal and political conservatives against wasteful governments and organisations is always the same. Constituents and tax payers contribute, those in power spend money that is not theirs. Civil servants and people who occupy the (pluche, velvet) seats of power want to draw their salaries, but are never in a hurry to carry out what was decided. They simply wish to continue as long as there is enough support. This is human nature, but it is not always - actually seldom - good policy. Hong Kong joke: if you work for the Government, do nothing. If you do nothing, you cannot make mistakes. If you do not make mistakes, you are perfect. And if you are perfect, you get promotion. In business, this policy will bankrupt your company. The difference in this case has been that most funds since 1995 came from or through one man - the FIDE President, and most industrious others in FIDE - office then simply stopped looking for money. Even in such a scenario, the rule should be: very careful management of the public (in this case FIDE) purse, not spend money if it is not in the account and - if so - with constant monitoring when the money already spent will be coming in. The extraordinary story in FIDE is that - excuse our French - the civil war of 1993 - 1995 (i.e. the controversies surrounding Florencio Campomanes and Garry Kasparov, the PCA, the FIDE - Congress in Moscow 1994 etc.) resulted in the former abdicating power in Paris. Proposed by no-less-authority than Anatoly Karpov, the incumbent president Kirsan Ilyumzhinov (K.I.) was then elected, and twice reelected unopposed. The four points we now consider extraordinary are the following: (a) K.I. was an enigma at the time and undoubtedly saved FIDE from bankruptcy. (b) Most of the delegates to the General Assembly who decide (in name) on what happens in FIDE have since asked few questions where the money came from - even if it harms the reputation of FIDE. We think, however, that NOT asking these questions harms FIDE. (c) The honorary life-president of FIDE (asked to go in 1995) still wields a lot of influence, and a lot of his bills (without going into specifics - well publicised in the aftermath of Bled 2002) were still paid by a FIDE that was flat on its back, and depended on regular blood-transfusions by the current President of FIDE. (d) No one seems to have a clear plan to raise consistent revenue to keep FIDE going. The old American saying is: 'If something does not work, you know it does not work and you keep on doing it, you got to have your head examined. We therefore politely but sincerely suggest instead the following points: (i) That delegates should carefully consider the reasons that urged the United States Chess Federation to submit a Motion of No Confidence in Mallorca (posted elsewhere); (ii) That the 2003 move from Lausanne to Athens at least was a step in the right direction to tighten financial spending. However, that a lot of additional questions related to this move should be honestly answered in Calvia; (iii) That on the one hand the President of FIDE should be thanked for his contributions to FIDE. But that on the other hand his resignation would be welcomed by a large number of FIDE - delegates and by most analysts we talked to, if not the vast majority of active chess players. We ask all those who will decide on the Motion of No Confidence especially to study the The Conflict of Interest issue listed below. Recapitulation: After monitoring and evaluating the functioning of Fide especially for the past two years, we have collectively come to the conclusion that Fide is doomed unless it is reformed. Both as a business unit and as a representative organisation of voluntary member federations, Fide is using models that have been outmoded and outdated for a long time. The Soviet Union and its satellites collapsed about 15 years ago, because they did not change with the times. Most developing countries only have survived – at a price – since 1990 with the aid of the IMF and the World Bank, as a result of arbitrary policies and often taken on emotional grounds by politicians, not by technocrats or based on economics. Multi-nationals and major corporations run by CEOs with poor managements skills and not properly supervised by a Board of Directors have been going out of business for the last 15 years because they did not respond to the more competitive international business environment, and to international marketing changes and challenges. Fide is in danger of going under for the same reasons. It must change or die.
Without prejudice we state: We have studied the Fide Handbook, and cannot find anywhere that Fide must rely on the largesse of one man, nor that all major issues should be decided by the same person. Basically the latter policy has been the case for over 20 years, and the former for nine years. This model has only served the interests of a small circle of chess politicians, almost ignoring the following categories that keep OUR GREAT GAME of chess alive: Professional chess players; Amateur chess players active as club managers ; Publishers of chess magazines and chess books, chess writers and chess journalists; Scholastic, qualified teachers who derive at least 50% of their income from chess; Manufacturers, wholesalers and retailers (i.e. shop-keepers) and internet sellers of chess books, basic chess materials and internet related chess equipment; (and very important) Private and public sponsors who do not agree with the way Fide and the WC cycle is run. We feel that many of these have had good reasons to consider (or actually) abandoning Fide, because their needs are not met. Continuing on the current path is a prescription for disaster. We demand that those who allowed the current system to be introduced, supported and maintained take responsibility. We strongly suggest immediate remedial action incorporating all or most of our reasonable ideas.
If Fide were to be a
viable business it would be arranged into departments, so that we would
have the following committees. Each of them must have three – six year
budgets and specific goals to meet: a) World Championship Cycle - See what we posted on this on September 25th. b) Fundraising and Finances - See what we posted on this on September 25th under the heading Purpose of our Think-Tank and future Business Model of FIDEWe now wish to expand on the following four departments, and on our recommendations. What we say below in general also applies to the two points already discussed. c) Rules, Arbitrations and Governance We feel that those in charge of the Technical Commission (i.e. the Rules Committee, the Swiss Pairings Committee), the Chess Events Commission (i.e. World Championship Cycle Committee = WCC, the Youth and Junior Events Committee and the Organisers Committee) and the Qualification Commission (i.e. the Titles & Ratings Committee, and the Arbiters Council) have done an outstanding job in general. As for the WCC, (Annex 18) we understand that it is impossible to swim against the current if funding comes from just one source, and the same person decides what the future ought to be. General problem in all FIDE - affairs since 1995 (and actually before): The first problem is that we have been suffering a Fide president who has over-ridden his officers and behaved like an autocrat. We do not want to replace the person, as much as create proper management for the six departments which can maintain the integrity of their respective programs, rather than be token, or of 'advisory' status to either an executive, or a president. That means in the future reducing the authority of the president, increasing checks and balances at all levels, but leaving the actual job to be done to technocrats. The second problem is that in most departments of FIDE insufficient funding was made available. FIDE has its Handbook, but it does not follow its own rules. In the words of another (very senior) FIDE veteran "But what is the alternative ?" Some repeated comments in various wordings that reached us were: Start a new organisation and Demolition of FIDE. We, however, feel that sufficient income, adequate funding and allowing the very competent administrators-in-charge to get on with the job is the answer - in addition to what is said below under (d) about course materials and group-tutors and Distance Learning. May we also refer to recommendations under (e) and (f) to reduce the current dilemma's. d) Education We have followed what happened in the Chess-in-Schools Committee since 1988. The report on Halkidiki 2003 found on the above website under Annex 24 demonstrates that more than enough ideas are constantly submitted. But once the congress is over, almost no funding seems to be forth-coming and almost nothing is done until a year later. This Annex is very much like previous ones, being almost interchangeable. Only the actors change. A good time is clearly enjoyed by all. (A good deal was posted by the final editor in person about Trainers' education, Chess-in-Schools and government subsidies in the Netherlands. See our article on the English Trainers' course that will start in December in Groningen. We like to point out that we have an interest in pushing our own model, but we also wish to emphasize that this Dutch model - with course material in print in English, French, German and Dutch - has been running for over 16 years. Also that it is (taking into account our relative population) probably the world's most successful course - selling 10,000 children books a year, that it distributed by the KNSB, and that it has given basic Trainers' education to some 5,000 chess players since 1988. It additionally 100% conforms with the stated FIDE goal of being available at cost-price. And final advantage: it will provide and it has proven to provide reasonable terms of employment to all those who follow our courses. We therefore propose this model to be adopted by the Chess-in-Schools Committee and the Trainers' Committee at its next session on a non-exclusive basis. We already have made the application for this purpose to the FIDE-office in Athens.) As for an Office of Education. If the Presidential and Executive Board and the General Assembly will follow our recommendations, then this department (incorporating most of the committees of the current FIDE Development Commission: i.e. the Chess-in-Schools committee, CACDEC and Trainers' Special Commission - relevant files in Greece last year Annex 22, 23 and 24) ideally would set its aim as follows. What we suggest is based on a comparable education model devised for professors of Harvard University (and audited by a Dutch and another U.S. University) assisting the state of Palestine as client state and funded by the United Nations (UNDP) at a very, very considerable expense. (As a model it was designed to be progressive, a "ramped" system, which was its great virtue. The technical term indicates that both the content and the teaching/assessment method could be /continuously/ developed. Therefore it never gets old, and always gets better, and is a system which can adapt and change.) Categories for educational materials are needed for (i) players, (ii) arbiters/ tournament directors, (iii) chess teachers. Each of these categories may be competency-tested, and each is subject to renewal and updating to meet new conditions and progressive factors of the game. These standards and competencies would be universal, hence transportable from country to country, wherever they are subscribed, and be encountered by a level of confidence. Utilisation of the world-wide media of the internet can deliver to each category discrete course materials comprising texts, images, diagrams, audio and video materials, as well group-tutors; all within well-established realms of Distance Learning activities. Many of these can be developed by commercial interest at no cost and no risk to FIDE, but FIDE would be a partner. The almost completely unmet demand for each category, needs to be met by low-cost solutions, timely administration, and which possess a central coordinated quality-control mechanism. To contrast this with the current status-quo around the world, we observe a variety of national projects which attempt to supply the whole or merely a part, supplemented by commercial entities. Many of these programs are of dubious quality, and even in rich nations such as the USA, the national federation does not effectively regulate arbiters and tournament directors, since the cost of developing and implementing such a program for a single nation is thought to be prohibitively high. Independent attempts to remedy the void in respectable chessic materials are typically provided by third party commercials entities, and often lack any valency to change and adapt, are untested by independent authority, or meet resistances because of national-chauvinistic sentiments. Furthermore, they lack real and on-going testing of the student, and are expensive to engage. A major potential benefit to membership in the world chess organization Fide, in provision of a universal standard of measurement and assessment, goes largely without address. An Office of Education, as one of six critical new Fide departments, would have as its primary focus, the goal of establishing and administering chess competencies for each constituency in chess education. The internet is the way to go, and FIDE would do well to investigate the competitive options available from (a) educational organisations at university level, (b) vendors of teaching programs and (c) reliable commercial operators with a track record on a non-exclusive basis. Even then, translation into the various official FIDE languages of all the course materials to be used on the internet is a condition sine-qua-non. We wish to show by posting most of our own contributions in various FIDE languages - by example - that today's market demands instant or at least a.s.a.p. communications to suit the target market in order to be effective. We want our readers to compare this with the current practice of FIDE to only communicate in English - again for (entirely understandable) budget reasons. e) Professional Players Prof. Dr. Max Euwe declined to be crowned World Champion upon the death of Alexander Alekhine in 1946, and instead ceded his rights to FIDE. Bobby Fischer single-handedly wrested control of the title from the Soviet players in 1972, but then made impossible demands - ironically when Euwe was in charge of FIDE (1970 - 78). Since then we have had the initially very successful Grandmaster Association (GMA) which ended in quarrels between Kasparov and the rest, and the rift between Kasparov, Short and FIDE. The situation is now deadlocked (Prague agreement on hold), but in the meantime the well-organised Association of Chess Professionals has become a serious partner. We therefore propose that serious Player Representation is 30 years overdue in FIDE. We do not think that it is possible to overstate what chaos has been caused by the lack of senior player representation in world chess. The original emergence of Fide as a world governing body came into force after the hiatus in the championship post-Alekhine in1939-1946, from a rules generating body to a fully-fledged world governance organization, and regulation of the World Championship cycle is probably the strongest single role that the organization has played. It is players, however, who have made the greatest contribution to furthering conditions and rewards of play, notably World Champions GM Fischer, GM Karpov and GM Kasparov. Pursuit of these conditions has often been at odds with Fide itself, and more recently World Champions GM Zsusza Polgar and GM Anatoly Karpov successfully sued the organization for failing to fulfill its promised and contracted role. Additionally the situation of World Champion GM Ponomoriev cannot be considered satisfactory. We also note that World Champions, GM Karpov, GM Kasparov and GM Kramnik, were not successful in jointly presenting an alternate view to those held by administrators, since in effect, they were denied an interview. This is in total variance from what the current President stated as his major aim when elected after Paris: unification of the world titles then held by Kasparov and Karpov. This rift between players and administration is not a temporary element in the equation, being in effect now for some 30 years, nor is there any significant or appreciable closure in points of view, or re-establishment of mutual confidence. The relationship has caused a progressively divisive split in world chess between the aspirations of players and the actions of administrators, and a consequent result has been mal-functioning of the World Championship cycle itself to the extent that many first tier players no longer think its current basis is a respectable one, therefore do not take part in it. It is therefore proposed that a GM player should occupy the new office of Player Representative at Fide in order to provide a necessary address to this and other significant matters relating to the attitude of players to their own world organisation, and in so doing, to return to a level of confidence and participation by players in their governing body. Furthermore, it is recommended that the ACP organization organize and select such a representative, the ACP being the largest and most cohesive group of grandmaster players. We call on the FIDE - Congress to finally take action !! f) Commerce The difference between the lethargic and slow-moving public sector (i.e. FIDE and the various member chess federations) on one side, and the vibrancy and viability of the private sector on the other side in most developed chess nations at once demonstrate why FIDE will go under, unless it learns lessons that already apply to the larger political scene. The different approach between e.g. the German Federation (Deutscher Schachbund) that released its commercial interests long ago, and left dealing in basic chess products, chess computers etc. to market forces, and (other approach) the painful experiences of the United States Chess Federation leave nothing to the imagination. The last 10 years of the USCF were largely spent in dealing with the competition and slowly finding a new role, i.e. without its mail order business. Some ventures (with apparent conflict of interest) cost the USCF very, very dearly. Therefore, marketing of basic and sophisticated chess products, chess books, and competing with lean but efficient scholastic chess operators (who may be incompetent in chess skills but good in marketing - see above) are now by sheer force majeure left largely to market forces, or - if an interest is held - are subcontracted to reliable partners like Hanon Russell. The Royal Netherlands Chess Federation (KNSB) is a model in between the above. It still sells products and services to loyal clubs and federation members at a premium, subcontracts services to commercial interests and its related charity organisations, and receives in return government subsidies. Most CACDEC nations do not engage in any commercial activities except organising events. There is a large neglected market here, provided the right choices are made based on these experiences. We therefore say that Caution is important. However, the mixed model that is successful in quite a few federations like in the Netherlands, France and Spain, may be (we think) the model of the future for FIDE in some of the current segments of the market it controls: the idea is to negotiate non-exclusive contracts with trusted commercial interests on a no-risk basis. A good example is the current contract that FIDE has with DGT-Projects (of the Netherlands) who have proved to be reliable partners. This contract brings in revenue and costs little, certainly not salary and other employees benefits. We would propose - see below - granting of running Certificate Trainers' courses to selected partners (like us). The benefit to FIDE would be that those who pass the course pay a modest fee each year to FIDE for the right to be called certified FIDE Trainer. This would also be to the benefit of and in a trusted partnership with their own federation. We ourselves are ready at a moment's notice to submit a proposal that would probably raise some CHF 100.000 for FIDE in the second year, fully funded and without any risk to FIDE or its member federations taking part. It would be of great benefit to FIDE CACDEC-nations as well, some of whose customs - despite being a signatory to the WTO agreement - still levy high import duties on all merchandise including chess goods (e.g. 52% in India), but almost no duty if imported by the National Olympic committees. This is one of the areas where FIDE can do what commercial interests cannot do, and does not exploit the possibilities available to her. FIDE could buy chess supplies wholesale in partnership with a commercial company and distribute these to FIDE CACDEC federations, while raising revenue. Other sources of revenue underutilised: We know that FIDE is experimenting with lowering the bar for Elo-ratings in order to get revenue. We think this is a poor idea. In this she will compete directly with national federations. Lowering also will inflate the Elo - ratings in the long run, and it might raise the budget on salaries for maintaining the system without adequately raising revenue, unless contracted to low cost nations. What will indeed raise revenue are e.g. (a) Modestly raising the current fees for Elo-ratings but providing a much larger market by facilitating the new activities of the Office of Education. We strongly refer to (j) - below. (b) Updating the list of International Arbiters (your final editor was approved in 1988, but together with two other IA's in Hong Kong we were delisted when we moved countries). (c) Concentrating with immediate effect on the new World Championship Cycle and working directly with the ACP on a new circuit of chess events. These were the major sources of income of FIDE until 1992. It is to us incomprehensible that this is neglected. (d) Thinking of ways to raise a minimum of Euro 1 a year from all organised chess players worldwide. In the Netherlands e.g. adult chess player pay some Euro 70 - 87 a year to their clubs which typically would include competitions and two magazines. Recapitulation: We propose this as the new Fide model, rather than the current model of the President effectively deciding everything and communicating by diktat. Of course there needs to be an additional legal business mechanism in place to make it all work and we call on the General Assembly to decide on these issues as soon as possible. We still call on the Presidential Board, the Executive Board and the General Assembly in Mallorca to voluntarily implement our suggested FIDE - Reform. And we call on all to run honest and fair elections for a new Fide President, an Executive Director and the new Presidential Board who will accede to their changed task in November 2005.
The new Business Model has been extensively proposed above. The new organisational model is closely linked to this but will not work unless the following overdue changes are passed by the General Assembly:
(a) The World Championship Cycle (Zonals, Interzonals, Candidate matches, Semi-Finals and WC match) – a major source of income of Fide, at classical time-controls, are reintroduced in 2005. We suggest that the ACP starts working closely with the World Championship Cycle Committee - Annex 18.
(b) Member nations that do not show, do not vote. Absentee ballots are abolished. This point is so obvious that anyone outside FIDE we explained this to shook their head in disbelief. If major bodies like the U.S. House of Representatives, the House of Commons (U.K.) and their equivalent in most European parliaments enforce this rule, someone in FIDE should explain the rationale. The fact that South Korea became a member in 1994 and delivered the deciding vote in Moscow shows clearly how the absentee vote can be manipulated. (Although Korean chess like shogi in Japan is a national sport, there is little international chess activity. South Korea may be up-to-date with its payments, but it is never seen at any FIDE Congress, and to the best of our knowledge is seldom or never participating in any FIDE competitions) The same applies to e.g. Fiji which also voted for the Kasparov/ Campo ticket through Hong Kong. We can indeed show a fantastic game by a Fijian player, but that dates back to the Commonwealth Championship in Melbourne in 1983 !
(c) Member nations that have not shown at Fide Congresses since Elista 1998 until today lose their voting rights and get observer status. Only when they appear at two successive Congresses and show a notarised, certified statement that they have 250 paying members, are they readmitted as full members. We challenge the current administration to show the rationale of the current custom that is a severe injustice to those who always show up and contribute both as volunteers to committees and in financial terms, and who organise the major tournaments. Why should the large federations with hundreds of thousands of members be treated just like 'nations' that probably have only 10 or 15 paying members and consist of one chess club ?
Could the FIDE - office (Elista or Athens) e.g. tell us if the following nations listed on the FIDE website have paid their dues and fees, and if FIDE is in contact with them ? Are they allowed to vote in Mallorca ? Angola, Burundi, Cambodia, Colombia, Ethiopia, Ghana, Honduras, Kuwait and Madagascar and Namibia. A few of the other ones previous listed in 2000 (Istanbul) and 2002 (Bled) in the meantime also have been delisted by FIDE, like Burkina Faso, Djibouti, Gambia, Mali, Mauritania and Senegal. Of the above, we know Colombia, Honduras, Kuwait and Namibia are genuine, only their email addresses do not function or exist. How does FIDE keep contact with them ?
(d) A new weighted voting system is to be introduced that credits the actual number of members of each federation. We suggest differentiation between member federations that have e.g. (i) less than 100, (ii) resp. 2,000 members; (iii) less than 10,000 (iv) resp. less than 25,000 members; (v) less than 75,000 (vi) resp. less than 250,000 members; (vii) less than or (viii) more than 1 million members. Subject to negotiation, these should therefore receive a different number of votes. We respectfully ask the General Assembly to raise this point in Calvia. It may be a good revenue raising issue if the larger federations could only agree that this is what they want. Things come to pass if it is everyone's interest. Subject to negotiations, these nations might adopt one or more of the smaller CACDEC nations in an exchange program as proposed under (j).
(e) The position of the Fide President becomes ceremonial, to be compared with that of the German and Italian Presidents, the Chancellor in a major university or of a King or Queen in a constitutional monarchy. The power for daily affairs lies with the Executive Director and his staff who take their direct instructions from the General Assembly and the Executive Board. Our modest experience is that many semi-retired CEO's and diplomats with extensive business contacts might be interested if approached. A special commission should be appointed that would screen potential candidates. Under NO circumstance should the names of candidates be leaked. (An unsuccessful candidate often is afraid of damage to his reputation.)
(f) A Security Council is to be installed with veto-rights if three permanent members object. Details in the longer proposal (upon request, sometime next week). This Council will function as a Board of Directors would in a major corporation. We sincerely believe that the experience of 22 years autocracy leaves no alternative than proposing a second body in addition to the changed status of (e). As soon as we talk about politics, power, important decisions being made and a lot of money being managed, human nature being the way it is, we cannot do without proper checks and balances.
(g) The President of the ACP (currently Joel Lautier) should get an automatic place on the Presidential Board, and can discuss in this body matters relating to the World Championship Cycle on behalf of chess professionals on basis of equality with the Executive Director. We understand that the ACP and GM Lautier are more than willing to talk directly to the General Assembly.
(h) The Conflict of Interest issue in Fide has to be addressed a.s.a.p. by a written code of conduct. It is pointed out by proponents of the current management that any allegations of impropriety (corruption) have largely disappeared in FIDE, because the President paid all the bills if there was a deficit. But Conflict of Interest can take many forms, as the USCF points out in its proposed Motion of No Confidence. Our reading is quite another angle: the FIDE President needs his position with us to maintain the respect of those in power in Russia. Roman Abramovich (current Chairman of Chelsea FC, voluntary exile and billionaire) and Boris Berezovsky (also a billionaire exile) obtained immunity of prosecution by being elected to parliament from remote regions. They then accumulated their wealth in post-communist Russia under (to put it mildly) questionable circumstances. We only wish to point out that K.I. also has immunity as being a member of upper Parliament in Russia from the remote region of Kalmykia. The fact that he is also President of FIDE adds to his status within Russia, and might give him extra security, and serves as additional insurance against prosecution in whatever business deals in Russia and overseas he conducts, including what happens in Kalmykia itself, and what he does as President of FIDE. The problems of jailed Mikhail Chodorkovsky, president of Yukos and opponent of president Putin shows that the three persons mentioned above did their homework. The latter thought merely being rich was enough. We think that being President of Kalmykia is challenge enough, and we do not think that there is ANY time left for running FIDE. We think this is a clear conflict of interest, that FIDE cannot afford. Readers, also carefully consider what is said under (j).
(i) The President and the Executive Director are elected in the future for one term only of four years, which can be extended for reasons of excellence by two years, but only with a 2/3 majority vote in the Fide Congress. Provided good technocrats i.e. executive staff for each department are chosen (like civil servants in modern government) this is the model to go. It leaves younger talented chess politicians with a goal to look for.
(j) A minimum of 10% of the Fide budget is to be invested annually into scholastic chess, i.e. the Chess-in-Schools program and CACDEC. At least two of the available multi-lingual certification programs for scholastic chess are to be ratified and offered to all member federations (at cost). The aim is to expand organised chess players worldwide to 15 million members, and those with a basic knowledge of chess to 500 million. Sponsorship desperately depends on these moderate goals. We note with regret that very modest, almost negligeable funds have been spent on the Development Commission - compared to the enormous funds thrown at the knock-out events that were largely unwanted by Chess Players.
We also note with increasing amazement and interest (see Chessbase website) that (quote) 'FIDE President Kirsan Ilyumzhinov has just unveiled a plan to build a new "chess city" in the Emirate of Dubai. It's a US $2.6 billion project that is expected to play host to (hold on to your hats) 60 million amateur and professional chess followers annually. You don't believe he can do it?' (unquote) We all know that there already is a City Chess in Elista. To the best of our knowledge, no charter flights are currently organised to Elista that could underpin these claims. K.I. also stated: (quote) "They will have a permanent venue where they can congregate and play 24 hour championships throughout the year, while some other 500 million lovers of the game will have the chance to follow the excitement via interactive electronic screens," he added in a joint statement with the chief executive of Dubai Projects, Sulaiman al-Fahim. (unquote) Why did K.I. not tell anyone in FIDE about it, then we would know whom to tax ? We still state that there are probably only (maximum) 5 million organised chess players worldwide, and that you do not increase this number unless you invest very heavily in the future.
For the moment we shall treat this therefore strictly as a real estate project. The things salesmen say to close a deal?! Quite a lad our prez ! Three final questions: (i) Does the name of FIDE appear on any of the documents ? (ii) How about conflict of interest ? (iii) Who approved the following statement: "President Ilyumzhinov also revealed intentions to reallocate the headquarters of the International Chess Association from Lausanne in Switzerland to the new International Chess City in Dubai." The things we learn in the press about our own future ?!
(k) Each traditional chess nation from Europe & North-America adopts a minimum of one developing nation to nurture our logo ‘Gens Una Sumus’. We refer CACDEC nations to negotiate this using (d) as a bargaining chip.
(l) The Anti-Doping Regulations introduced on 01 August are suspended until further notice. See Annex 33 and Annex 34. Being from a medical family (7 physicians + 1 nurse), the final editor considers this a waste of money. Opponents have stated all along, and doctors and psychiatrists alike agree that there are no drugs that benefit players of mind games.
The real issues here are (a) an attempt to 'control' by misguided chess politicians; (b) outdated attempt to comply with WADA, as it is now completely clear that chess will never become an official Olympic sport; (c) if significant government funding to various national federations through their NOC is at all an issue (e.g. Spain and the Netherlands), then FIDE should leave this to that federation. Most other nations get almost no funding; (d) most drugs used by sportsmen relate to physical sports, while 'mind games' are in a different category altogether: as the final editor has written a book on the issue of addiction etc., he is aware that the danger exists that completely unrelated medical issues will come into play.
In most countries around the world (if we leave addiction to tobacco completely out of the picture), some 5% of the general population is prone to addiction through either genetic or biochemical predisposition. To this percentage should be added some 10% who are wrongly diagnosed by physicians or therapists and who are on medication, like tranquillizers, anti-depressants and allergy surpressing agents. Add to these, people who go through a difficult phase in their lives. As a senior executive and G.P. of a major French pharmaceutical company told me: "Our industry knows that 15% of the population gets addicted at some stage in their life to something. We treat them as our target market. They better be addicted to our prescription drugs than to alcohol or tobacco, or to the drugs of our competitors."
We think that it is none of the business of FIDE officials to become involved in these kind of problems. There are quite a few GMs and IMs we personally know and have known who are manic-depressives, alcoholics (Alekhine) or who are in plain language: functioning, but harmless madmen or eccentrics - and who are probably at some stage in their professional career on medication. Some of them have even their own websites ! The difference between genius and madman is a thin one. 'Whom the Gods love, they strike with madness first.' Just as important is that FIDE has no money for it. We are ready to post an even stronger rebuttal if current FIDE officials proceed with their misguided policies. What would the chess politicians say if the ACP proposed drug testing on chess officials as a condition to serve in FIDE or at the Olympics ? From our own observations in FIDE over the last 15 years we have seen ample evidence that some of those in charge might benefit from anger management therapies, medication or both. Apologies to those who are not guilty !
(m) The Presidential Board engages in the future in an active dialogue with internet groups on policy, so that public opinion within chess is harnessed for support. We know that the FIDE office that keeps the website up-to-date is ably managed by Mr Casto Abundo and staff. If they set their mind to it, they would not have the slighest problem in complying with this request.
(n) The deal with Fide Commerce is renegotiated. See our post Eulogy on the demise of FIDE - Commerce of Sept. 22nd. Are there any other skeletons left to be unveiled ? We are waiting with baited breath !
One final remark: We are glad that - to date - President Saddam Hussein nor his son Uday (posthumously) have been made a Friend of FIDE, a Honorary Member, received a Medal of Merit, was deemed a Most Esteemed Friend of FIDE, or given one of the new titles that are apparently being bestowed these days. We admit that this must have been a close call. On the home pages of the president of FIDE, this associate (currently in custody in Iraq) is still listed as a 'normal man' and obviously K.I. looks up to him. In plain English: 'When dining with the devil, use a very long spoon' and 'If you lie with the dogs, you get fleas.' We do not want to associate with Saddam nor some of the other people K.I. treats as his business associates or friends. © October 03, 2004 Action Committee for a Democratic FIDE, Kaarlo Schepel – spokesperson
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