The year 2024 corresponds to the centenary of the creation of FIDE - Fédération Internationale Des Échecs.
More precisely, it was in Paris on 20 July 1924 that FIDE was created (originally called FIE - The current acronym FIDE would be adopted at the 2nd FIDE Congress in Zurich, Switzerland in 1925, but the meaning did not vary: Fédération Internationale Des Échecs).
More precisely, it was in Paris on 20 July 1924 that FIDE was created (originally called FIE - The current acronym FIDE would be adopted at the 2nd FIDE Congress in Zurich, Switzerland in 1925, but the meaning did not vary: Fédération Internationale Des Échecs).
The official FIDE centenary logo
I propose to retrace this creation of FIDE, as well as the first Chess Olympiad via several articles. These two events are closely linked. Moreover, as we shall see, the idea of an International Chess Federation came after the launch of the organisation of the international chess tournament alongside the Olympic Games.
This first part is devoted to the beginnings of the first Chess Olympiad.
To date, the FFE has said very little about this FIDE centenary event. You can find an article on its website here. But these events seem to me to be very meagre (reconstruction of the act of signing the creation of FIDE and giant simultaneous).
There is no mention in these events, for example, of Pierre Vincent, the driving force behind the creation of FIDE. His grave is in the Montmartre cemetery.
This first part is devoted to the beginnings of the first Chess Olympiad.
To date, the FFE has said very little about this FIDE centenary event. You can find an article on its website here. But these events seem to me to be very meagre (reconstruction of the act of signing the creation of FIDE and giant simultaneous).
There is no mention in these events, for example, of Pierre Vincent, the driving force behind the creation of FIDE. His grave is in the Montmartre cemetery.
The VIII Olympiad (Olympic Games) essentially took place in Paris from 5 to 27 July 1924.
On this occasion, the fledgling French Chess Federation launched the idea of integrating the game of chess into these sporting Olympic Games.
This soon turned out to be rather short-sighted, as bulletin number 5 of the French Chess Federation tells us that the steps had unfortunately failed...And indeed, although this was to be one of FIDE's major objectives from its inception, it has still not been achieved....
On this occasion, the fledgling French Chess Federation launched the idea of integrating the game of chess into these sporting Olympic Games.
This soon turned out to be rather short-sighted, as bulletin number 5 of the French Chess Federation tells us that the steps had unfortunately failed...And indeed, although this was to be one of FIDE's major objectives from its inception, it has still not been achieved....
Chess at the Olympic Games
The steps taken by Mr Fernand Gavarry, President of the FFE, to have chess included in the programme of the 1924 Paris Olympic Games, although very favourably received in governmental and sporting circles, came up against inflexible regulations.
The programme of the Games was established once and for all in Lausanne and can only be modified at an International Olympic Congress convened by the International Olympic Committee, which is the sole judge of whether lessons can be drawn from the Games of an Olympiad that could lead to a modification of the programme.
M. Léon Bérard, Minister of Public Instruction and Fine Arts, in a friendly letter addressed to our President, says that, at his request, he has not failed to intervene with the French Olympic Committee and regrets that a "chess" section cannot be admitted to the programme of the games of the VIII Olympiad.
The programme of the Games was established once and for all in Lausanne and can only be modified at an International Olympic Congress convened by the International Olympic Committee, which is the sole judge of whether lessons can be drawn from the Games of an Olympiad that could lead to a modification of the programme.
M. Léon Bérard, Minister of Public Instruction and Fine Arts, in a friendly letter addressed to our President, says that, at his request, he has not failed to intervene with the French Olympic Committee and regrets that a "chess" section cannot be admitted to the programme of the games of the VIII Olympiad.
Photo Fernand Gavarry - Supplement to the Belgian magazine L'Échiquier, June 1925.
See the biography devoted to him by Dominique Thimognier on his website "Héritage des Échecs Français".
See the biography devoted to him by Dominique Thimognier on his website "Héritage des Échecs Français".
Gaston Legrain, chess columnist for the newspaper L'Action Française, reported on this failure in the 24 December 1922 edition.
The last sentence refers to the famous boxer of the time, Battling Siki.
The last sentence refers to the famous boxer of the time, Battling Siki.
Talks initiated by the President of the French Chess Federation to have chess admitted to the programme of the 1924 Olympic Games came up against inflexible rules, excluding anything that did not directly involve muscles. Everything to Siki.
Nevertheless, the French Chess Federation did not give up and decided to organise a parallel event to the 8th Olympiad. The opportunity to honour the game of chess during this world event was not to be missed.
Bulletin number 8 of the FFE (July - September 1923) mentions an idea from the Russian master Eugène Znosko-Borovsky, who lived in Paris. The problem was essentially financial for the very young French Chess Federation. How to finance an international tournament in Paris when the FFE is penniless?
Bulletin number 8 of the FFE (July - September 1923) mentions an idea from the Russian master Eugène Znosko-Borovsky, who lived in Paris. The problem was essentially financial for the very young French Chess Federation. How to finance an international tournament in Paris when the FFE is penniless?
Bulletin number 8 of the FFE - July / September 1923
A few months later, a solution had obviously been found, as can be read in bulletin number 10 of the FFE. There is no explicit mention of an appeal to patrons, but it is possible to guess that this would be the only solution. If only because of the location of the tournament: the Majestic Hotel was mentioned.
This venue was not chosen at random. It is a luxury Parisian hotel whose owner is none other than Léonard Tauber, one of the main patrons of the French Chess Federation, and future president of that same FFE.
Advertising for the hotels owned by Léonard Tauber, then president of the FFE - Bulletin FFE number 47 of February 1931.
A few months later, a solution had obviously been found, as can be read in bulletin number 10 of the FFE. There is no explicit mention of an appeal to patrons, but it is possible to guess that this would be the only solution. If only because of the location of the tournament: the Majestic Hotel was mentioned.
This venue was not chosen at random. It is a luxury Parisian hotel whose owner is none other than Léonard Tauber, one of the main patrons of the French Chess Federation, and future president of that same FFE.
Advertising for the hotels owned by Léonard Tauber, then president of the FFE - Bulletin FFE number 47 of February 1931.
In any case an organising committee and an executive committee were set up.
An important detail in the title of the article in the FFE bulletin is the word "Amateur". The Olympic Games were strictly reserved for amateur athletes. But how to define this notion among chess players?
An important detail in the title of the article in the FFE bulletin is the word "Amateur". The Olympic Games were strictly reserved for amateur athletes. But how to define this notion among chess players?
Bulletin number 10 of the FFE - January / March 1924
International Amateur Chess Tournament.
As the 1924 Olympic Games are expected to bring a large number of foreigners to Paris, a committee has been formed to organise, with the collaboration of the French Chess Federation, an international tournament of chess amateurs.
This tournament will take place in the salons of the Hotel Majestic from 13 to 20 July 1924.
Amateur champions from all the nations entered in the Olympic Games are invited to take part in this tournament.
Amateur champions from all the nations entered in the Olympic Games are invited to take part in this tournament.
The number of potential competitors was limited to 4 per nation, with no substitutes.
As in the Olympic Games, the prizes will consist of medals and diplomas.
(...)
As in the Olympic Games, the prizes will consist of medals and diplomas.
(...)
Note that there is no mention yet of the idea of creating an International Chess Players Federation on this occasion...
To be continued...
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