Olympiad 2012

www.newzealandchess.co.nz

The members of the Olympiad squad are responsible for their own travel costs to the event. At present, there is no sponsorship for them at all. The New Zealand Chess Federation is appealing for donations to help with travel costs. Send cheques, payable to NZCF, to PO Box 216, Shortland Street, Auckland 1010, or make contributions directly to ANZ Bank 01 0535 0073257 00 - please send me an email to confirm you have done this (heligan@newzealandchess.co.nz). Contributors will be listed on this web page.

NZCF is inviting applications for the the roles of Open Team Captain and Women’s Team Captain for the 2012 Istanbul Chess Olympiad. These are non-paid roles and Team Captains will be responsible for their own travel costs and arrangements in the same way as players. They will receive free, full board for the duration of the Olympiad on a share twin basis. They will also receive a share of any contributions and fund-raising towards travel expenses on the same basis as players.

Applications close on the 31st March 2012. The completed Application for Team Captain form (Word document) must be received by NZCF, either by post or email, on or before this date. All applications will be acknowledged by email on receipt. The Team Captains for Istanbul will be announced on the 20th April.

For any further information or details relating to these roles please contact NZCF Olympiad Coordinator Hilton Bennett (email: hiltonb@wave.co.nz).

Applications are now open for the New Zealand Open and Women’s Teams to the 2012 Istanbul Chess Olympiad, which is scheduled to take place between 27th August and 10th September 2012 in Istanbul Turkey.

To apply you must:
1.. Complete the Application for Selection form (Word document) and return it either by email or post to NZCF by the 31st March.
2.. Read the Player Agreement and Code of Conduct (link, and pdf download) and sign and return the Player Acceptance form (last page of Player Agreement), either scanned and emailed, or by post by the 31st March.
To return forms by post please send to: New Zealand Chess Federation, P.O. Box 216, Shortland Street, Auckland 1010.
An application for selection must have both forms completed and returned by the closing date.
Receipt of your application documentation will be confirmed by email.
Selections (including up to three non-travelling reserves) will be announced on or before the 20th April.

The Application for Selection provides information necessary for both selecting and registering players. This is your opportunity as an applicant to show why you believe that you should represent New Zealand at this event. NZCF is also attempting to improve its processes and bring them into line with good practice in other sporting organisations. To this end the Player Agreement has been introduced for this Olympiad. It is based on a format used by the NZOC, and endeavours to outline the responsibilities and roles of both the player as a NZ representative, and the NZCF. It is intended to provide greater clarity for both parties.

The final dates and location of the Olympiad are always at the discretion of FIDE and the Olympiad organisers. Although no Olympiad website or accommodation details are yet available, NZCF is proceeding with Olympiad organisation on the basis of the information received so far and confirmed at the last FIDE quarterly Presidential Board meeting. If you would like further information or clarification on any point please contact Hilton Bennett by email: hiltonb@wave.co.nz.

FM Mike Steadman guaranteed himself a place in the Open team by winning the NZ Championship outright at the Queenstown Chess Classic. Nobody claimed the place on offer in the Women's team.

As far as I am aware, the contract between FIDE and the Turkish Chess Federation still hasn't been signed, and the Olympiad (venue and dates) remains unconfirmed.

The New Zealand Chess Federation is calling for 'Expressions of Interest' from players and captains for both the Open and Women's teams for the Chess Olympiad which is scheduled to take place in Istanbul, Turkey, from 27th August to 10th September 2012. An Expression of Interest is not an application for selection, but will ensure that those who are interested in selection will be informed directly about news and developments related to the Olympiad.

For the Open team, players applying should be 2150+. For the Women's team, female players over 1400. Anyone can apply to be captain. Note that you can apply to be a player and a captain; please state which you prefer, as it is very unlikely that NZCF would appoint a playing captain.

You can submit an Expression of Interest in the 2012 Olympiad by emailing the Olympiad Co-ordinator, Hilton Bennett directly (hiltonb@wave.co.nz) or by post to NZCF: New Zealand Chess Federation, P.O. Box 216, Shortland Street, Auckland 1010.