UPSC Prelims 2023 Question:

Consider the following statements in respect of the 44th Chess Olympiad, 2022:

1. It was the first time that Chess Olympiad was held in India.
2. The official mascot was named ‘Thambi’.
3. The trophy for the winning team in the open section is the Vera Menchik Cup.
4. The trophy for the winning team in the women’s section is the Hamilton-Russell Cup.
   
   

How many of the statements given above are correct?

Learn more about FIDE and the chess olympiad in the given explanation below. 

Explanation:

• For the 1st time ever, the world's biggest chess event is happening in India. Chennai is hosting the 44th Chess Olympiad. So, statement 1 is correct.
• The Official Mascot of 44th Chess Olympiad is 'Thambi'. The word 'Thambi' in Tamil language means - little or younger brother. So, statement 2 is correct.
• 1st place in the Open section:Hamilton-Russel Cup.So, statement 3 is not correct.
• 1st place in the Women's section: Vera Menchik Cup. So, statement 4 is not correct.
  
  

What is FIDE?

• The International Chess Federation (FIDE) is the governing body of the sport of chess, and it regulates all international chess competitions.
  • It's constituted as a non-governmental institution.
• It was recognized by the International Olympic Committee as a Global Sporting Organization in 1999.
• FIDE currently has its headquarters in Lausanne (Switzerland), but it was initially founded in 1924 in Paris under the motto “Gens Una Sumus” (Latin for “We are one Family”).
• It was one of the very first International Sports Federations, alongside the governing bodies of the sports of Football, Cricket, Swimming, and Auto Racing. It is now one of the largest, encompassing 199 countries as affiliate members, in the form of National Chess Federations.

So, only two of the above statements are correct.

Therefore, option (2) is the correct answer.

Subject: Polity | Miscellaneous(pol)