Online chess viewership has multiplied around the world since the confinement began
There are already 108 teams from 35 countries registered in the tournament, for a total of 972 players
The registration deadline has been extended to 31 May.
Madrid, 14 de abril de 2020.- In light of the great demand for virtual chess seen on the internet since the mass confinement began, the organizers of the World Online School Chess Tournament, promoted by the Spain Pavilion in conjunction with Expo Dubai 2020, have made the following decisions:
- Extension of the registration deadline
The registration deadline has been extended to 31 May 2020 to give all schools and educational institutions affected by the COVID-19 pandemic the chance to sign up.
- Teams grouped with nearby schools
The organizers have decided to allow a school or institution to register a team in the tournament that includes boys and girls from educational centres that are geographically nearby and that do not have enough students to form a team of their own. The school registering them must certify that the boys and girls belong to schools that are geographically nearby.
- Elimination of the 10-team limit per country
The limit of ten teams per country has been removed to ensure that no registered team is left without taking part.
In the current pandemic situation, in which lock down measures are in place in practically every country around the world, virtual chess club viewership has multiplied, and chess competitions are very popular as the only sporting events that can still be held unfettered thanks to the internet.
Connecting minds, creating the future
In keeping with the theme at Expo Dubai 2020 –
Connecting minds, creating the future–, the Spain Pavilion invites young people from countries participating in the world fair to take part in an initiative designed to
connect the minds of new generations and
create the future, taking advantage of the enormous potential of chess to develop intelligence, included in the fundamentals of computation, strategic thought and as a tool to develop artificial intelligence. It is also an element that promotes coexistence as the only sport that can be practiced without the barriers of language, ability or distance.
The tournament is for schools with students of all ages up to the U-16 category (that is, those born from 1 January 2004) from the 192 countries expected to take part in the World Fair. The top-qualifying teams in the initial stage will play the final round in person at the Dubai Expo. There are currently 108 teams registered from 35 countries, for a total of 972 players.
For more information on the rules and regulations of the competition and on the registration process, see the following link: https://www.accioncultural.es/en/ExpoSpain2020-chess
Expo Dubai 2020
With the theme
Connecting minds, creating the future, Expo Dubai 2020 coincides with the 50th anniversary of the founding of the United Arab Emirates (UAE). It will be the first world fair hosted by an Arab nation and the Middle East region. Its scheduled opening in October 2020 could be delayed due to the global crisis caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
The common thread presented by the Spain Pavilion, included within the thematic area of
Sustainability, will revolve around a concept inherent to our commitment to the planet and the future:
Intelligence for Life.
Acción Cultural Española (AC/E)
Acción Cultural Española (AC/E) is a public agency that supports and promotes Spanish culture and heritage, both in Spain and overseas, through an ample programme of activities in key creative areas: visual, performing and audio-visual arts, literature, music, architecture and design, and others.
AC/E works to highlight culture as an essential part of the reality and image of a country, and its projects underscore the diverse Spanish contribution to global culture.
Acción Cultural Española (AC/E) is also responsible for Spain’s presence at Expos and World Fairs, where it manages the Spain Pavilion.
For more information:
MAHALA Comunicación y Relaciones Públicas
External communication agency for the Spain Pavilion at Expo Dubai 2020
Marta del Riego /
mdelriego@mahala.es / + 34 654 62 70 45
Madrid + 34 91 826 17 22
www.mahala.es
Acción Cultural Española (AC/E)
Press Office/ Mónica Hernández
Tel.: + 34 91 700 4000 / +34 628 26 01 75 /
monica.hernandez@accioncultural.es
C/ José Abascal, 4. 4ºB / 28003 Madrid, Spain
