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By Johnathan Paoli
The African Chess Confederation (ACC) has thrown full weight behind South Africa’s intention to bid for the 2030 World Chess Olympiad, hailing the move as a historic step to bring the world’s most prestigious chess event to African soil for the first time.
The ACC said in a statement that the decision marked “a bold and historic step towards bringing the world’s most prestigious chess event to African soil”.
It has called on the entire continent to unite behind the campaign.
“We are proud to announce that Chess SA will prepare a bid to host the 2030 World Chess Olympiad, making history by bringing the world’s greatest chess event to African soil for the first time ever,” the federation said.
The announcement followed a recent meeting when Chess South Africa’s (Chess SA) executive board met a high-level delegation of sports and chess leaders.
The gathering included International Chess Federation deputy chairperson Dana Reizniece, South African Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee first vice president Lwandile Semilane, and Western Cape cultural affairs and sport acting deputy director-general Lyndon Bouah.
According to Chess SA, all parties at the meeting aligned on a single ambition to secure the 2030 Olympiad for South Africa.
Since the first Olympiad in Paris in 1924, the event has been staged on every continent except Africa.
The ACC said South Africa’s intention to bid for 2030 was not only about hosting a major tournament, but about completing the Olympiad’s global journey and affirming Africa’s readiness to welcome the international chess family.
“With the strong backing of SASCOC and the Department of Sport, Arts and Culture, this prospective bid is more than a dream, but a continental statement of unity, excellence and determination. We call on all African federations, chess enthusiasts and international partners to rally behind South Africa’s campaign,” the ACC said.
If successful, the bid would give South African chess fans a rare opportunity to watch the game’s elite players live, while showcasing the country’s ability to host world-class events.
It would also expose thousands of young players to the sport at the highest level, potentially inspiring the next generation of champions.
The bid comes at a time of renewed energy in international chess.
Later this year, FIDE’s calendar includes the World Youth U16 Chess Olympiad in Barranquilla, Colombia (16–23 August 2025), and the 2nd FIDE Chess Olympiad for People with Disabilities in Astana, Kazakhstan (19–26 October 2025).
These events, while smaller in scale, reflect the global growth and inclusivity of chess, qualities South Africa hopes to highlight in its 2030 campaign.
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