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                                                                                                         Ελληνική έκδοση

With the occasion of the 13th Chess Olympiad for Blind and Visually Impaired players that is organised by the Hellenic Sports Federation for Persons with Disabilities, and will be carried out in the municipality of Gazi on Crete island, I would like to wish great success and great sport performances.

Sports is a precious means of friendship and approach of nations. Greece competes, claims and undertakes major sport events, strengthening continuously her position in the international sport scene. After the successful organization of the Chess World Cup for the Youth and Women Championships for Blind and Visually Impaired in 2005 in Eretria at Evia island, the entrusting of organization of the 13th Chess Olympiad for Blind and Visually Impaired players, proves the constant confidence of the International Braille Chess Association in the abilities of our country to undertake and host major sports events.

Once more Greece is called to show her organizational readiness, all the acquired know-how as well as the remarkable hospitality that athletes and visitors will have the opportunity to enjoy.

The 13th Chess Olympiad for Blind and Visually Impaired players is the most significant sport event in the international field of Chess for Blind and Visually Impaired players. I am certain, that this organization will also meet the expectations of the athletes that participate.  I wish great success.

With sports greetings, 
   
Giannis Ioannidis Deputy Minister of Culture with Responsibilities for Sport

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Ladies and Gentlemen,
Dear friends,

It gives me great pleasure to welcome the 13th Blind Chess Olympiad to Greece. The concept of sports and championships are tightly bound to Greece and the Olympic ideals. The Olympic Games in Athens elevated Greece to one of the best positions in the tourist market, while demonstrating the critical role sports can play in the development of the tourist market.

Because tourism and sports are directly related to one another. They are similar and interconnected concepts. In this context, the contribution made by initiatives to organise international sports events is especially important, as they help to promote our country abroad in a number of ways. Through welcoming top chess players, we have the opportunity to showcase the sun and the sea, our country’s beautiful landscapes, our cultural heritage, the true experience of Greece. Hosting sports events of this kind helps us show the contemporary face of Greece, a country with a successful presence in top sports events. At the same time, an initiative such as this one highlights what we, the Ministry of Tourism, stand for: the fact that sports are the irrevocable right of all citizens.

Sports activities, like tourism, are a social commodity that we are all duty-bound to secure for each and every man and woman, from Greece and abroad. Because, if it’s an aspiration for the lower income classes, it’s a vital need for people with disabilities. Respect for diversity and human dignity, and a dedication to claiming them is our duty, and a prerequisite for a socially just and open society.  With those simple thoughts, I’d like to welcome all participants to Greece of Art and Culture, of Sports and Tourism, and wish them the very best of luck.

Best regards,          Aris Spiliotopoulos Minister of Tourism

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The Prefecture of Heraklion with joy welcomes the 13th Chess Olympiad for the Blind and Visually Impaired Players. The presence of almost 300 persons from 29 countries from all over the world sends multiple and strong messages in the local but also in the international society. Messages of mental and emotional strength, active participation, collaboration and solidarity through the competition for excellence.

Parallel, the undertaking of this great sport event from regional (local) institutions (conservancy) is a challenge and also a proof of the possibilities of our local society. The Heraklion Prefecture with eagerness supports this organisation and expects that the experience from these games will add new knowledge that will contribute in the growth of this sport as well as in the growth of the sports for persons with disabilities generally. We congratulate all the protagonists of the organisation for their initiative and their efforts for the success of the games.

As the Prefect I feel the need to address particularly in the protagonists of the games and life, the athletes. We welcome you in our prefecture, we congratulate you for your participation, we thank you for the strength that you give us and we wish you from our heart great success in your games.

Best regards,          Evaggelia Schinaraki  Iliaki Heraklion Prefect

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Dear Friends,

The conduct of the 13th Chess Olympiad for Blind and Visually Impaired players that is realised in Ammoudara region in the Municipality of Gazi constitutes a very important event for our region. Therefore I feel great satisfaction for this event and furthermore for the selection of our Municipality for its conduct. This top level competition will bring 270 individuals from 29 countries from the entire world in our city and this fact causes great excitement as well as expectation to give our best.  As Mayor of the City that hosts this event I wish to all the athletes, guides and spectators to acquire the better impressions from our city and the organisation of the Olympiad.

Welcome and great success to everyone!

Best regards,          Georgjos Markogiannakis Mayor of Gazi

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As President of the International Braille Chess Association (I.B.C.A.) I greet all the blind and visually impaired chess friends, who have come from all over the world to participate in the XIIIth Chess Olympiad for the blind and visually impaired. Since the first Chess Olympiad for the blind at Meschede (Germany) in 1961 I.B.C.A have proved the functional capacity of their sportsmen and women in many chess events for the blind and visually impaired.

So did for example our Greek friends when organising the world cup and the youth and women championships for the blind and visually impaired in 2005. Chess is a kind of sports which is especially appropriate for blind and visually impaired people, because it cannot only be practised among themselves, but also they can compete with their sighted colleagues without any great effort.

The blind and visually impaired chess players have proved this during all the F.I.D.E. Olympiads since 1994 at Moscow, and they will prove this once more at the F.I.D.E. Olympiad at Dresden (Germany) when a men’s and a women’s team will take part.

May the XlIIth Chess Olympiad for the Blind and Visually Impaired Chess Players be a great success on the beautiful island of Crete.

I thank our Greek friends for their hospitality and their excellent work.

Best regards,          Ludwig Beutelhoff I.B.C.A. President

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Dear Friends,                                                          

On behalf of the Hellenic Sports Federation for Persons with Disabilities I welcome you all to the 13^th Chess Olympiad for Blind and Visually Impaired. It is a great pleasure for us to host in our Country such a great competition where participants from all around the world will join in. We expect this event to display for once more our capability to offer high standard Competitions of International level.
Our main target is all the participants to be satisfied from this Competition and to remember for a long time the Greek hospitality.

Furthermore, we would like this competition to lead to a further development of the Chess for the blinds and visually impaired in Greece.

I would like first to thank the IBCA for the take- over of the Olympiad. Special thanks to the Undersecretary of Sports Mr Yannis Ioannidis, the Minister of Transports and Communications Mr Kostas Hatzidakis, the Greek National Tourism Organisation, the Prefect of Heraklion -Crete Mrs Evangelia Schoinaraki - Heliaki and the Mayor of Gazi Mr Georgios Markogiannakis for their precious support in our organisation.

I wish you all a successful Olympiad and a very pleasant staying in the beautiful island of Crete.

    My best wishes,                
George Foundoulakis, President of the Hellenic Sports Federation for Persons with Disabilities