The Committee on Youth and Sports of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine greeted the participants, organizers and arbiters of the first Intercontinental Online Chess Championship for Prisoners . We publish his letter in full:
Dear Chess Lovers!
On behalf of the Verkhovna Rada Committee on Youth and Sports I sincerely congratulate you on holding the first official online World Chess Championship among convicts.
By participating in the most prestigious competitions, you inspire people who are in difficult life circumstances, to play sports and set an example of a healthy lifestyle, faith in overcoming all the difficulties of life.
I am confident that this tournament will be a significant milestone in the further development of chess without borders and the promotion of this sport.
I wish the participants good health and well-being, success in the competition and further life, bright, meaningful, uncompromising game, pleasant impressions from mutual communication and soon release.
I hope that this championship will acquaint chess fans with new masterpieces of intellectual art created in this international tournament. And there can be no losers in competitions, because this Championship will be a real school of support, mutual understanding, aspiration to a better life and will promote the skill of each player.
I wish you sportsmanship, bright victories and conquest of new heights!
Sincerely,
Chairman of the Committee Andriy Kozhemyakin
