In Perspective: Chess In Africa

It's good to keep in mind that as tough as we think we have it in this country with the current economic downturn, things are a lot worse elsewhere. Here's a story about getting financing to send the Ugandan chess teams to the 2008 Chess Olympiad in Dresden Germany: Olympiads get financial boost James Ssekandi Story from the Sunday Monitor November 2, 2008 Kampala National Social Security Fund (NSSF), Kampala Club and Civil Aviation Authority (CIA) have supported the chess team set to represent Uganda at the 2008 World Olympiad in Dresden, Germany this month. NSSF has offered 1150 euros (about Shs2.7m) towards the players’ travel while Kampala Club contributed one return ticket. CIA has offered a cash contribution of Shs1m. “UCF (Uganda Chess Federation) highly appreciates the support received so far and strongly appeals to other corporate bodies and well wishers to assist the national chess team,” said Vianney Luggya the federation’s publicity secretary. UCF intends to send both men and women for the tournament that runs from November 12 to 25. The trip will cost the federation about Shs34m.