Sharjah 24: Alef International Chess Olympiad 2023 continues its global activities, as 80 national players compete in the Union’s Day Championship, Friday, December 1, as part of its four tournaments scheduled to be held in the Emirate of Sharjah, as the Capital of Culture.

Held under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah, the Olympics is organised by Alef Group, the leading developer of communities, destinations and lifestyle experiences in Sharjah, in cooperation with the Sharjah Cultural Chess Club.

Alef Group CEO, Issa Ataya, the official sponsor of the Olympics, said that  the Union Day Chess Championship coincided with the UAE Union Day, to be a source of pride for the competitors, and an opportunity to pay homage to the makers of the spirit of the union, from whom they draw strength and determination.

He stressed that the solid gains of the Alef International Chess Olympiad would not have been achieved without the wise leadership’s belief in the importance of sporting, cultural and scientific competition, giving it a high level of attention, and making sport a way of life full of achievements, pointing out that the Alef Group was pleased to be the official sponsor of the Olympiad, since it is important in developing talents and building capacities.

He expressed his pride in the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah, for the International Olympics, which is being held for the first time in Sharjah, which constitutes an incentive in preparing conscious, capable and productive generations to represent the UAE well in various competitions, and to raise the UAE flag high in the all  global arenas.

He praised the players who whom he considers as ambassadors for their countries in the fields of fair competition, pointing out the importance of such an Olympics in reflecting a civilised image of the organising country, and that the UAE institutions are capable of challenging and proving themselves.