The opening ceremony of the World Chess Olympiad took place at the WOW Convention center in Istanbul. 
FIDE President Kirsan Ilyumzhinov, Turkish Minister of Youth and Sports Suat Kilic, and the Turkish Chess Federation President Ali Nihat Yazici greeted the participants and addressed the event.
The FIDE President Kirsan Ilymzhinov stated, "The representatives of 158 national chess federations have arrived to Istanbul to participate in the prestigious Tournament of Nations. This is the new record in the Olympiad`s history. The players will demonstrate their skill and strength of character in tense matches for the main team trophy in chess: Cups of Hamilton-Russell, Vera Menchik and Nona Gaprindashvili."
The Minister of Youth and Sports Suat Kilic welcomed everyone to the record breaking Chess Olympiad. Mr. Kilic said that he is very happy that the 40th Chess Olympiad takes place in Istanbul and emphasized that he will support the Turkish Chess Federation in the future, in order to see chess globally around the country.
Azerbaijani top chess players are among favorites of the Olympiad.
Azerbaijan will be represented by Teymur Rajabov, Shahriyar Mammadyarov, Rauf Mammadov, Eltaj Safarli, and GAdir Huseynov, as well as female players Zeynab and Turkan Mammadyarovas, Gulnar Mammadova, Khayala Isgandarova and Nargiz Umudova.
The Olympiad will run till September 10.

AzerTAc