FIDE is pleased to invite federations to apply for the Olympiad Training Support Program ahead of the 46th Chess Olympiad 2026 in Samarkand, Uzbekistan.
This well-established and highly regarded initiative has earned strong appreciation from participating federations. Building on its success, the 2026 edition is delivered within the framework of cooperation between FIDE and Freedom Holding Corp., aimed at supporting developing chess nations.
A total of over 100 federations across FIDE development levels 3, 4, and 5 are eligible to apply for this year’s program.
Participating federations will benefit from a structured preparation program delivered in two phases:
- Online phase: Each team will receive up to 10 hours of training conducted by professional coaches selected by the FIDE Trainers Program.
- On-site phase: During the Olympiad, federations will receive co-financing for the presence of their assigned coach.
FIDE President Arkady Dvorkovich emphasizes the importance of the program:
“Over the past editions, the Olympiad Training Support Program has proven to be an impactful and widely appreciated initiative. It demonstrates FIDE’s commitment to supporting developing federations and ensuring that players have access to professional preparation. We are pleased to further expand this program in cooperation with Freedom Holding Corp. and look forward to another successful edition in 2026.”
Timur Turlov, CEO of Freedom Holding Corp., added:
“Supporting developing chess federations is an investment in the future of the game. Access to high-quality training and professional guidance helps unlock talent in regions where opportunities may be limited, creating a more inclusive and competitive global chess community. We are proud to contribute to this initiative together with FIDE.”
Federations in development levels 3, 4, and 5 wishing to participate must confirm their interest in both the online and on-site phases and indicate their preferred language of instruction no later than May 22, 2026. Based on the number of applications and development levels, the FIDE Trainers Commission will design and allocate training resources accordingly.
Olympiad Training Support Application Form (for Federations): https://formdesigner.pro/form/view/243554
FIDE-licensed trainers interested in supporting participating teams are also invited to apply by May 15, 2026.
Olympiad Trainer Application Form (for Trainers): https://formdesigner.pro/form/view/243553
Eligible federations:
Chess Development Level 5 Federations
Antigua and Barbuda
Burundi
Bhutan
Belize
Burkina Faso
Central African Republic
Cambodia
Chad
Cameroon
Democratic Republic of the Congo
Comoros Islands
Djibouti
Dominica
Eritrea
Ethiopia
Fiji
Gabon
Gambia
Equatorial Guinea
Ghana
Greenland
Grenada
Guinea
Isle of Man
British Virgin Islands
Kiribati
Liberia
Macau, China
Marshall Islands
Mali
New Caledonia
Niger
Papua New Guinea
Rwanda
Senegal
Seychelles
Sierra Leone
Solomon Islands
Somalia
South Sudan
Sao Tome and Principe
Sudan
Syria
Tanzania
Tonga
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
Yemen
Chess Development Level 4 Federations
Brunei Darussalam
Cote d’Ivoire
Haiti
Hong Kong, China
Japan
Saudi Arabia
Kuwait
Libya
Lesotho
Mauritania
Namibia
Nepal
Oman
Palestine
Saint Kitts and Nevis
Wales
Chess Development Level 3 Federations
Netherlands Antilles
Albania
Algeria
Andorra
Angola
Aruba
Australia
Bahamas
Bangladesh
Bermuda
Bolivia
Botswana
Bahrain
Cayman Islands
Chile
Cape Verde
Cyprus
Dominican Republic
Egypt
El Salvador
Faroe Islands
Guernsey
Guatemala
Guam
Guyana
Honduras
Iraq
US Virgin Islands
Jamaica
Jersey
Jordan
Kenya
South Korea
Kosovo*
Laos
Lebanon
Saint Lucia
Madagascar
Morocco
Malawi
Maldives
North Macedonia
Malta
Mozambique
Mauritius
Myanmar
Nicaragua
Nigeria
Nauru
New Zealand
Pakistan
Panama
Palau
Puerto Rico
Qatar
Scotland
San Marino
Sri Lanka
Suriname
Eswatini
Thailand
Tajikistan
Timor-Leste
Togo
Chinese Taipei
Tunisia
Uganda
Vanuatu
Zambia
Zimbabwe