#NarendraModi in Chennai for the #ChessOlympiad on Thursday evening said there were no losers in #sports and only winners and future winners.
The Prime Minister began his speech by saying “Vanakkam, Good Evening Chennai, amid a round of applause, and said this will be a memory forever. Declaring the 44th Chess Olympiad open, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday evening said there were no losers in sports and only winners and future winners. While speaking after declaring the event open said “may the game begin” as his concluding remark.
Below is the video of his speech:
Sports unites us. Every sporting tournament gives the message that we are stronger and better together. pic.twitter.com/FHk8vnZM6B
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) July 28, 2022
Narendra Modi said that the sporting culture is becoming stronger due to the energy of the youth and enabling environment. He went on to say, “our talented youngsters from small towns and women bring us glory”. “In the UK, 22nd Commonwealth Games is beginning too. Thousands of Indians are waiting to live their dream.”
He drew a parallel to the Chess Olympiad by saying, For a long time, life came to standstill due to COVID. It was sports that brought us together. We are stronger, better now. The post-COVID period has made us realize the value of physical and mental fitness.”
He told the participants of the Olympiad that they will get the opportunity to explore Chennai, Mahabalipuram, and its nearby areas. Recollecting Tamil Nadu’s strong historical connection with the game of 64 squares, the Prime Minister said ‘Even God played this game of chess in Tamil Nadu.”
Modi then went on to tell the story of the temple of Sathuranga Vallabanathar where God played a game of chess. “The State has a strong historical connection with chess. That’s why the State is the chess powerhouse of India”, he added.
“On behalf of every Indian, I extend my thanks to FIDE for this gesture. This Chess Olympiad is happening in this beautiful city. Sports has always been considered divine in our culture”, Modi said.
Commenting that the tournament has the highest number of players in the women’s section this time, “This is the first time the Chess Olympiad is being held at its place of origin. It is coming to Asia for the first time in three decades, he noted. He said the most prestigious event has come back to its home. “It is an honour to have you all here at such an important time for our country. Friends, I would like to applaud the organizers of the tournament. They have made outstanding arrangements”, praising them for managing the event.