Newspapers around the world are carrying the story that arose when a Minister of Israel complained that the Israeli National Anthem was not played for an Israeli girl who won the prize for Best Girl Under-14 at the World Youth Chess Championships in Turkey last week.
This complaint is bogus. At the World Youth Chess Championships in Turkey it was decided to dispense with the national anthems. There were prizes to be awarded for the best boy and girl under the ages of 18, 16, 14, 12, 10 and 8 for a total of twelve first prizes in all, not counting the second and third prizes. The organizers decided that it would take 90 minutes to play all these national anthems and all the kids and their parents would get bored and leave. Therefore no national anthems were played.
The Israeli Minister who is complaining about the Israeli National Anthem not being played in Turkey looses credibility for himself and his country by making this nonsense complaint.
This subject is likely to be controversial. This story is being blasted all over the world. The newswires are apparently carrying it. I think it is best that it stay here.
And yes, Mr. Policeman, the World Youth Championships in Turkey are a USCF Issue.
Controversial doesn’t make it a USCF issue. The presence of USCF members at an event such as the World Youth Championships doesn’t necessarily make all controversy at an event an USCF issue, especially when USCF members aren’t even involved in the controversy.
Besides, this topic has been moved. Having some structure is a good thing.