The inaugural “Chess for Dialogue” tournament was organized by the Permanent Missions of Hungary and Ukraine at the UN Headquarters on 18 June 2015. The event was opened by. H.E. Mr. Yuriy Sergeyev, Permanent Representative of Ukraine to the UN, Ms. Hua Jiang, Officer-in-Charge, UN Department of Public Information and H.E. Mr. Zsolt Hetesy, Deputy Permanent Representative of Hungary to the UN.
Ms. Jiang conveyed the message of UN Secretary-General to the participants of the event. In his message, the Secretary-General highlighted the role of chess in building friendships across the barriers of language, age, gender, physical ability or social status. “In a world torn by crisis and division, chess can help promote mutual respect.” He added that the characteristics and values of chess can help the United Nations achieve its goals.
The goal of the “Chess for Dialogue” initiative is to raise awareness of the potential of chess as a tool of soft diplomacy which can contribute to the objectives of the United Nations in line with the mandate of the UN Office on Sport for Development and Peace. The event is supported by the world-renowned Hungarian Grandmaster Ms. Zsuzsa Polgár who is the Honorary President of the tournament.
The game was opened by Assistant-Secretary-General Kim Won-soo and Ms. Zsuzsa Polgár who made the first symbolic move. During the main part of the event, a group of UN Ambassadors representing every region of the world played with young talented chess players from the New York City area.
To see the photo diary of the event, please click here.
