Raising the Russian flag and playing the national anthem at the Asian Chess Championships

Sheikh Sultan bin Khalifa bin Sultan bin Shakhbout Al Nahyan, President of the Asian Chess Federation, approved the decision to allow the raising of the Russian flag and the playing of the Russian national anthem during official tournaments and competitions organized by the Asian Chess Federation, in the context of the developments witnessed in the international sports arena regarding Russia’s return to international competitions, and after recent developments related to the status of the Russian Olympic Committee at the Olympic level.

The Asian Chess Federation confirmed that the decision comes based on its commitment to the principles of the international sports movement, and its keenness to unify the Asian chess family, in a way that contributes to enhancing sports competition and developing the game on the continent, in accordance with the rules and regulations in force.

The decision allows Russian teams and players to participate in Asian championships under the official Russian flag, with the Russian national anthem played during the coronation ceremonies, starting from the adoption of the decision in all Asian Chess Federation competitions.

This decision is considered a new step in the path of Russian sports returning to the international arena, after the recent developments witnessed by the International Olympic Committee’s decisions regarding the Russian Olympic Committee, with each international and continental sports federation continuing to organize its participation in accordance with its own systems and regulations.

It is noteworthy that the Russian Chess Federation became a member of the Asian Chess Federation after the approval of the General Assembly held in Abu Dhabi in February 2023, following the transfer of its membership from the European Chess Federation to the Asian Chess Federation, in a step that constituted a historic shift in the continental chess map, and contributed to enhancing the level of Asian competitions with the participation of one of the most prominent international federations in the game.