Budapest hosted one of the world’s biggest sporting events between 10 and 23 September: the 45th Chess Olympiad was held in the BOK Hall. At the opening ceremony, Judit Polgár, the best female chess player in the history of chess, lit the Olympic flame and at the closing ceremony, she and former world champion Vishy Anand of India presented the gold medal to the members of the Indian team, who finished first in both the open and the women’s section.
The Judit Polgár Chess Foundation – as a local partner of the Budapest Chess Olympiad – was present in the BOK Hall for the entire duration of the event, where thousands of people gained an insight into the work of the Foundation. At the 230 nm2 stand, people of all ages could find a fun programme for their needs. The youngest children and their parents were able to learn about the Foundation’s educational programmes for developing skills and movement, the Chess Palace and Chess PE, and meet and talk to their professional leaders and training instructors. Children could immerse themselves in the fairy-tale world of the Chess Palace, experience the adventures of the palace characters, test their skills in interactive games led by teachers, on the adventure courses and on the digital interactive whiteboard.
Visitors were able to try out László Polgár’s invention, the Star Chess, meet the members of the Polgár family, see Judit Polgár’s Olympic medal collection and see some of her private chess collection, they could solve chess challenges, learn about the educational projects of our professional partners, the Museum of Fine Arts and the OTP Fáy András Foundation – and of course play chess.
Chess brought us all together.
