Olympic Scandals
(created on 13th September 2004)
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1. Most top players missed the 1928 Chess Olympiad. What was the reason?
The Olympiad was not widely recognized at the time.
A prestigious individual tournament was held concurrently.
FIDE imposed a ban on professional players at the Olympiad.
The strongest teams failed to submit their applications before the deadline.
Accommodation was extremely poor, and many players withdrew.
2. Why did FIDE refuse to grant the 1936 Munich event official patronage?
Because the organizers insisted on playing on eight boards instead of four.
Because the organizers did not invite the Palestine team.
Because Germany had been expelled from FIDE at the time.
Because the time control was too fast.
Because the Germans violated a FIDE resolution establishing Olympiads every two years, in odd-numbered years.
3. Why was the Argentina–Palestine match in 1939 recorded as a 2–2 default draw?
Because the Argentinians feared the Germans, who threatened a naval war against Argentina.
Because officials from the leading teams agreed on a rule that no major nation should be given an extra rest day.
Because the Palestine team captain asked the hosts to do so as a gesture of solidarity with the Jews.
Because Argentine officials politely offered to reduce Germany’s alleged advantage (since the Germany–Palestine match had been set as a 2–2 default).
Because Argentina was at war with Germany and refused to play teams that Germany did not play.
4.
The game Fischer–Najdorf (Leipzig 1960) is famous because:
Najdorf suffered a minor heart seizure right after the game.
Fischer’s rude behavior led him to sweep the pieces off the board.
An angry crowd disrupted the game for an hour.
Fischer brilliantly escaped from a lost position and went on to win.
The game was adjourned and never finished, because Fischer left Leipzig the next morning.
5. In 1966, in Round 2 of the Finals, the U.S. team did not show up at the playing hall on the day of the USA–USSR match. What was the official reason?
The U.S. team protested alleged preferential treatment of the Soviets in food and accommodation.
It was a gesture in support of human rights in Cuba.
Because of food poisoning, only three U.S. players were fit to play.
The U.S. team officially protested the Soviet-supported Bay of Pigs invasion.
The U.S. team refused to follow the scheduled timetable.
6. Why did Albania withdraw from the 1972 Chess Olympiad?
They were performing so poorly that the authorities ordered them to return home.
They refused to play Israel.
They mixed up the board order, were defaulted, and refused to accept the ruling.
They protested excessively high accommodation costs.
Albania had broken diplomatic relations with Yugoslavia, the host country.
7.
Why did South Africa withdraw from the 1974 Chess Olympiad?
They protested that Rhodesia had been forced to withdraw.
They refused to play against Black players.
They withdrew in protest after being expelled from FIDE during the event.
Their plane tickets were booked too early.
They were so depleted that they could not field a four-player team.
8. The 1986 Dubai Olympiad was affected by a muted but quite serious scandal. What was it?
After an unexpected loss, Kasparov allegedly attacked a cameraman in a rage.
A pairing committee member admitted being ordered to favor the Soviets.
The ruling family of Dubai allegedly refused to present prizes to players of Jewish origin.
A leading Western player claimed harassment by communist security services to affect his play.
It was alleged that the USSR’s 4–0 win over Poland in the final round was influenced by political pressure.
9. A few Western European teams (e.g., Denmark and Sweden) did not come to Dubai in 1986. Why?
To protest the organizers’ policy of reimbursing full travel costs only for selected countries (mostly Asian and African teams).
In solidarity with Israel, which was not allowed to participate in Dubai.
Because many top players clashed with chess officials, and some countries did not want to send a “third-string” team to Dubai.
Because they feared terrorist attacks against their delegations.
Because they believed the Arab climate would be too harsh.
10. The Moscow 1994 Olympiad started as late as in December. Why?
It hadn't been postponed. It had just been strangely scheduled for the winter time a few years before
Because this best fit Campomanes' plan to retain his FIDE presidency at the congress held concurrently with the Olympiad
Because of accommodation problems
Because summer humidity in Moscow would be fatal for most of the players
Because another city dropped out their promises and Moscow was the last resort
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