The President of the International Chess Federation, Kirsan Ilyumzhinov, was on Wednesday February 19th, 2014, received in audience by the Minister of Sports and Physical Education, Adoum. Ilyumzhinov, who happens to be the first President of the Republic of Kalmykia, said he is in Cameroon to promote the game of chess.

He advocated for the game of chess to be taught in schools and promised offering technical assistance as well as manuals and chess boards for the project. He also promised to offer scholarships to Cameroonian students to study in Russia. Ilyumzhinov, who was accompanied by the Russian ambassador to Cameroon, Nikolai Ratsiborinskiy, said chess is practiced by over 600 million people worldwide and has more affiliations than FIFA. He also promised organizing international chess competitions in Africa, probably in Cameroon to enable the participation of African athletes.

The Minister of Sports and Physical Education said Cameroon has good relations with Russia in the domain of sports and that in Cameroon there is no minor or major sport discipline. He promised accompanying the development of chess since he said the federation is still young in Cameroon. He expressed the wish that Cameroon would be able to produce great chess players who will rival with Russian champions in the future.

This he said was only possible if a good policy of detection and grooming of talents is put in place. After the reception at the ministry the president of the International Chess Federation visited the Yaounde Chess club where he promised to offer 100 chess boards and timers. He was accompanied on his trip by the Berik Balgabaev, director of the Representative Office of the federation in Russia and Michel Nguele Viang, president of the Cameroon chess federation.