The biennial Chess Olympiad is one of the world's biggest sporting events, and the most important teams event on the world chess calendar.
The 39th Olympiad is being held at Khanty-Mansiysk, 1900 km from Moscow in western Siberia - it's hard to imagine a more remote venue from Australia!
Australia will be fielding an open and a women's team, each five players and a team captain, of our best available players.
With experience at the last two or three Olympiads, our new young stars GM Zong-Yuan Zhao, GM David Smerdon and IM George Xie will be out to continue our fine record.
Unlike most competing nations, the Australian teams receive no government support and must pay their own way, a burden compounded by the distance involved from Australia to Siberia and the corresponding high air fares. The costs increase with every Olympiad. They can't do it alone, but depend on the support of the Australian chess community.
We ask you all to reach for the hip pocket, and give what you can to the ACF Olympiad Appeal. No donation is too large or too small - all will get the teams that much closer to Khanty-Mansiysk and will be acknowledged on this site.
All donors of $50 or more to the last Olympiad Appeal received email bulletins from the players direct from Dresden. A similar thank-you gesture is anticipated from the players in Khanty-Mansiysk.
Enquiries from organisations interested in sponsoring the teams
are most welcome
