Written by Michael A. Rahal, FIDE Press Officer
By now, I have attended my fair share of opening and closing ceremonies: Grand Prix events, several World Cups and Olympiads, and even the opening and closing ceremonies of the Barcelona 1992 Olympic Games.
But none of them comes remotely close to what the chess community witnessed this evening in Samarkand, Uzbekistan.
The Boqiy Shahar Amphitheater, located on the banks of the Silk Road channel, provided a spectacular setting for the opening ceremony of the 46th Chess Olympiad, with more than 2,000 spectators in attendance.
Part of Samarkand’s Eternal City complex, the open-air venue was transformed for the occasion into a stage for an evening that brought together chess, music and the rich cultural heritage of Uzbekistan.
And what a show it was! For nearly two hours, the audience was treated to a spectacular succession of performances, featuring military units, choreographed dance, opera, traditional costumes and the distribution of sweets in beautifully decorated baskets.
More than 100 musicians and over 200 dancers and singers took part in the production, creating an extraordinary show, illustrating the richness and diversity of Uzbek culture.
The official part of the evening featured two speeches. First, the Prime Minister of the Republic of Uzbekistan, Abdulla Aripov, conveyed greetings from the President of Uzbekistan. He was followed by a heartfelt five-minute address from Viswanathan Anand, FIDE Interim President and a five-time World Chess Champion.
Halfway through the ceremony, the National Anthem of the Republic of Uzbekistan and the FIDE Anthem were performed by the Honoured Choir of Uzbekistan and the State Choir Chapel, adding a solemn and ceremonial moment to the evening.
One of the most anticipated highlights of the evening was the traditional drawing of colours ceremony, determining which teams would have the White and Black pieces on the first board in tomorrow’s opening round.
The honour of conducting the draw fell to Zhu Chen, the ninth Women’s World Chess Champion, and Rustam Kasimdzhanov, Uzbek chess legend and former FIDE World Chess Champion. The two guests selected pieces of both colours from traditional boxes, with White going to the highest-ranked team in the Women’s section and Black to the top seed in the Open section.
The audience was particularly impressed by the spectacular 3D visual mapping and drone light show, which filled the night sky with images of chess pieces and a dazzling array of illuminations.
And, to top it all off, a lively pop song and dance brought hundreds of players onto the stage, joining together in a mass celebration as fireworks lit up the sky above them. It was a fitting and unforgettable way to bring the evening to a close.
Don’t miss the full show on the FIDE Youtube channel
Photos: Rafal Oleksiewicz and Michal Walusza