Greeting of Andrey Ivanyuta the Minister of Youth Policy and Sports of the Republic of Bashkortostan to the participants and guests of the International Draughts World Championship

I welcome the participants and guests of the International Draughts World Championship. It is a great honor and great responsibility for our country to host competition of one of the ancient and intelligent sports. This outstanding event is a sign of wide recognition of the sport achievements of draughts players of Bashkortostan, both at Russian and world arenas, and our positive experience in hosting international championships. Their level was highly marked by international federations and representatives of the sports community.

That is for the first time when such a significant event is held in the Republic of Bashkortostan. Ufa will gather the best draughts players from 24 countries who was qualified for this competition by Draughts Confederations of Europe, Asia, America and Africa. Republican Organizing Committee tried to create all the conditions to make the world championship exciting and entertaining, and participants made a lot of memorable and beautiful attacking combinations, thereby enriching the theory and practice of sports, and giving rise to the popularity of this intellectual game.

I wish fans of draughts to see interesting, exciting games, and I wish the participants of the championship will have beautiful games, victories and memorable experience in our hospitable republic.