Chess to be included in academic agenda

(KPL) The Ministry of Education, the National Committee of Sports and Physical Education and Culture and the National Olympic Committee have agreed to include chess in schooling programme.

The Lao National Committee of Sports and Physical Education and Culture, the National Olympic Committee of the Lao PDR, the World Chess Federation and the Asian Chess Federation signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) last Friday in Vientiane.

The signatories to the MOU were Vice President of the National Committee of Sports and Physical Education and Culture Mr. Somphou Phongsa, General Secretary of the World Chess Federation Mr Ignatlus Leong and Mr Casto Abundo, Deputy President of the Asian Chess Federation.

This MOU is aimed to provide a framework for cooperation between the said parties and to precede a longer-term arrangement in which working documents and deliverables relating to particular projects or undertakings towards cooperation are produced.

The guiding principle behind the MOU is mutual friendship, trust and respect and common desire to advance the interest of chess in the Lao PDR.

The cooperation between the parties includes training courses for chess teachers, chess administrators and arbiters in the Lao PDR.

The World Chess Federation and Asian Chess Federation will provide all the technical expertise, tools, equipment, infrastructure and financial assistance to help chess development in Laos.

A familiarisation visit could be arranged in foreign countries which has chess academy running such as Singapore.

The MOU also indicates the revitalisation of the Lao Chess Federation and the appointment of an international chess delegate to enable the Lao PDR to participate in the chess competitions in the Asian Games 2010 and the 26th South East Asian Games 2011.

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