FIDE and South African officials have inspected a potential venue and discussed the possibility of Cape Town bidding for the 2032 Chess Olympiad.
A FIDE delegation, led by President Arkady Dvorkovich, visited the Cape Town International Convention Centre (CTICC) as a possible venue for the event. They were joined by Andre Lewaks, President of Chess South Africa; Dr. Lyndon Bouah, Chief Director for Sport and Recreation in the province of the Western Cape; and Kevin Malam, Assistant Director at the Western Cape Government.
The CTICC is being considered as a possible venue for what would be the first Chess Olympiad on African soil. Opened in 2003, the complex has a total floor space of 140,855 square meters and can accommodate up to 9,500 people. Its main auditorium can seat about 1,500 people.
As one of Africa’s leading convention centers, CTICC has hosted many international conferences and events, including the 2010 FIFA World Cup final draw, the 2023 Netball World Cup (the first Netball World Cup hosted on the African continent), and the 2015 World Economic Forum on Africa.
CTICC is part of Cape Town’s international positioning as a conference, exhibition, trade, diplomacy, and major events hub. Located in the Foreshore area, near hotels (more than 5,000 beds available), the V&A Waterfront, and transport links, it offers easy access for visitors and delegations.
Its flexibility is also a major strength: it can host exhibitions, congresses, gala dinners, sporting events, political sittings, and multiple concurrent events across its two major halls.
In April 2026, FIDE announced that Africa would be given priority to host the 2032 Chess Olympiad as part of a new principle of continental rotation for future Olympiads.
“Being here on the continent, we can feel how important this is for the whole African chess community, for all chess players, for all national federations, for everyone who is involved here, for governments as well,” FIDE President Arkady Dvorkovich said.
FIDE is now reaching out to countries that could host future Chess Olympiads.
“South Africa is a great location. I’m happy that we brought the World Schools Team Championship here. We could see first-hand how capable the local team is and the national federation. A modern venue, prestigious location, and the capacity of local organisers to host big international events are a great combination and we will take this into account when making the final decision,” Dvorkovich added.
“We are very excited at the possibility of hosting the Chess Olympiad in Africa, and particularly in South Africa,” said Dr. Lyndon Bouah, Chief Director for Sport and Recreation in the province of the Western Cape.
“Chess has been very important to us as a nation. In 2012 the national government took the decision for chess to be one of the priority codes of South Africa. Out of 83 possible codes, only 16 were chosen, and chess was one of them,” Dr. Bouah said.
Cape Town is one of Africa’s most internationally recognisable cities and South Africa’s legislative capital. It has political importance, a strong services economy, and global tourism appeal. It is also an important international travel hub, with strong connections to other parts of the world.
South Africa’s time zone also works well for a global chess audience. It aligns closely with most of Europe, home to one of the largest chess audiences in the world, making it easier for fans to follow games live.
Cape Town also has a strong chess tradition. The first chess club in Africa was established there in 1885. Today, there are 38 chess clubs in the city, which are due to play in a league at the end of this month.
The South African National Chess Championships have been held since 1892, making them the oldest national chess championships in Africa. Alongside Morocco, South Africa was also one of the first African nations to take part in the Chess Olympiad in Munich in 1958.