The FIDE Commission for the Disabled held a councilors meeting during August 14, 2015, in Athens, Greece.
Present were Thomas Luther, Margaret Murphy, Jamie Kenmure, Nikolaos Kalesis, George Mastrokoukos, Hesham El Gendy, Nigel Freeman.
FINAL DECISIONS/SUGGESTIONS
1) Tournament Conditions
The commission will examine the conditions that FIDE rated tournaments should offer to disabled players and prepare a detailed proposal for the 2016 FIDE GA.
Nikos Kalesis will prepare the draft proposal.
2) Chess clocks & sets
Upon request of the Qualification Commission and the Technical Commission, the Commission for the Disabled (DIS) will publish on the FIDE website a notice to interested chess clock companies to get their clock certified for visually impaired players.
Thomas Luther and Nikos Kalesis will prepare the announcement.
Regarding chess sets, DIS will buy 9 sets for visually impaired players (small, medium and large, x 3 for each category) after Margaret Murphy and Jamie Kenmore will examine the market prices.
3) World Chess Championships for the Disabled in 2017
DIS will ask the Dresden organisers if they are willing to host again the event in 2017. If not, DIS will prepare a bidding procedure with a deadline of 31 December 2015.
For 2019 and afterwards, DIS will prepare a bidding procedure for each event two years in advance. The event will be held every 2 years (2017, 2019, 2021, etc.)
A grant of 5,000 euros is approved for the 2015 World Championships in Dresden, from the commission budget.
4) Official acronym of the commission
“DIS” is approved as the official acronym of the FIDE Commission for the Disabled.
5) Paralympics
Jamie Kenmure will prepare a letter for the National Chess Federations encouraging them to contact their National Paralympic Committee for supporting chess.
6) Education seminars
Jamie Kenmure will prepare a letter to the National Chess Federations encouraging them to hold events/seminars for promoting chess for the disabled.
7) Commission meeting in 2016
DIS will hold its 2016 meeting in Tallin, Estonia from 1 to 4 June.
8) Social Media
DIS will activate again the Facebook page to promote its cause with title “Chess for the Disabled – FIDE Commission (DIS)”.
9) Fundraising
DIS will research the possibility of creating a foundation with the purpose of establishing a specialized entity under the aegis of FIDE, to gain access for fundraising and grants for DIS projects.
