Ministers Senthil Balaji, Ramachandran, Muthusamy and Swaminathan presented the torch flame on behalf of four districts (Coimbatore, Tirupur, The Nilgiris and Erode) to the Chess Grandmasters at the CODISSIA premises.
Coimbatore: Even as the 44th International Chess Olympiad is all set to kick-start at Mamallapuram on July 28, the Chess Olympiad torch was brought to Coimbatore on Monday amidst much fanfare.
Ministers Senthil Balaji, Ramachandran, Muthusamy and Swaminathan handed over the torch flame to the Chess Grandmasters of the four districts (Coimbatore, Tirupur, Nilgiris and Erode) at the CODISSIA premises in Coimbatore. The torch flame was brought from the Race Course area to the CODISSIA's Arena D in Coimbatore. 16 district chess representatives were handed samples of the Chess Olympiad torch flame.
The event was held at the CODISSIA Stadium where sportspersons who represented Tamil Nadu in various sports disciplines were felicitated.
This was followed by a special address by the Ministers and the District Collector. Traditional cultural art forms like Bharathanatyam, martial arts performances and western dance performances were a part of the event. This was followed by a high-speed chess tournament. Grandmaster Shyam Sunder played chess with 10 students, and then a 'Chess Cake' was cut.
District Collectors of Coimbatore, Erode, The Nilgiris and Tirupur, Inspector General of Police (West Zone) Sudhakar, Coimbatore City Police Commissioner Balakrishnan, District Superintendent of Police Badri Narayanan, District Revenue Officer Leela Alex, Mayor Kalpana Anandakumar, Chess Grandmaster Shyam Sunder, Chess Olympiad officials and others were also present at the event.
More than 2,000 students of government schools and colleges in Coimbatore district also witnessed the event.