SportAccord President Hein Verbruggen expressed his gratitude for the warm reception of SportAccord in China’s Capital. He continued by acknowledging the sponsors, the Local Organising Committee; particularly, the Chinese Board and Card Administration Centre, the Beijing Olympic City Development Association and the Beijing Sports Bureau and all the people involved in the preparations.
Acting Major of Beijing Wang Anshun, Vice-Mayor of Beijing Lu Wei, Deputy Director of General Administration of Sport of China Feng Jianzhong welcomed SportAccord, players, coaches, referees, and all participants. They underlined the values and importance of SportAccord World Mind Games and wished the event a great success.
The addresses were followed by artistic performances of sand painting, martial arts dance performance, sculpture dance and Peking Opera.
The ceremony was attended by FIDE President Kirsan Iljumzhinov, FIDE Vice-President Cho Bo, FIDE Secretary General Ignacius Leong, the Chief Executive Officer of FIDE Mr. G. Borg, assistant to the FIDE President Mr. B. Balgabaev and players.
Source : Sport Accord official site - www.worldmindgames.net
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The opening ceremony of 2012 SportAccord World Mind Games took place on 12th of December. The Games are now officially open but the chess players will start to play on 14th of December. The event took place in the Beijing International Convention Center. Pictures from the ceremony are