The dream of having chess as a medal sport in the Olympics has been dashed once more, with the IOC announcing 5 new participation sports for the 2020 Games. Baseball/softball and karate are hardly a surprise, as they have previously been in the games (and are popular in the host country of Japan). The other three sports are a little more left field, with Rock Climbing, Surfing and Skateboarding(!) making the cut.
In fact chess had not even made the shortlist this time, which of course raises the issue of why FIDE keep pursuing this recognition. Since it became a goal of FIDE to become an Olympic sport, a number of policy changes and decisions directly related to this have been implemented, not always to the benefit of the chess community. In return there have been kind words from the IOC but not much more than that.
I suspect Chess has now done its dash, and unless the IOC radically expand the concept of the Olympic Games (to include a separate event for indoor activities) then I can't see Chess making it to the main arena.
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I think you are a bit offbase here, Shaun. Chess has been trying to get into the Winter games, so Tokyo 2020 shouldn't matter.
However, it's still a hopeless long shot, and the fact that Agon had Beluga Vodka as a Candidates VIP sponsor (against IOC regulations) makes it even longer.
Initially it was the Summer Olympics that was the goal (as shown by the Shirov v Anand Exhibition at Sydney 2000), but this was eventually changed to an attempt to get on the Winter program (as shown by Kirsan's comments about chess pieces made of ice).
And I agree its pretty hopeless, but it seems FIDE haven't noticed yet.
Supposedly chess and bridge (and snooker) applied for Tokyo 2020.
https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2015/jun/12/snooker-chess-bridge-apply-2020-olympics-tokyo-tug-of-war-baseball
World Air Sports Federation (FAI),
International Federation of American Football (IFAF),
World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC),
World Confederation of Billiards Sports (WCBS),
Bowls Sports World Confederation (CMSB),
World Bowling (WB),
World Bridge Federation (WBF),
World Chess Federation (FIDE),
World DanceSport Federation (WDSF),
International Floorball Federation (IFF),
World Flying Disc Federation (WFDF),
World Karate Federation (WKF),
International Korfball Federation (IKF),
International Netball Federation (INF),
International Orienteering Federation (IOF),
Federation of International Polo (FIP),
International Racquetball Federation (IRF),
International Federation of Roller Sports (FIRS),
International Federation of Sport Climbing (IFSC),
World Squash Federation (WSF),
International Sumo Federation (IFS),
International Surfing Association (ISA),
Tug of War International Federation (TWIF),
World Underwater Federation (CMAS),
International Waterski & Wakeboard Federation (IWWF),
International Wushu Federation (IWUF).
When you compare to what might have been, skateboarding (FIRS, Roller Sports?) doesn't look that bad. Squash has to be one that feels left out.
You do realise that "transparency and fairness" are one of the criteria they (supposedly) use in evaluating sports/federations for inclusion?
The fact that Chess only had 63 in-competition and 13 OOC (out of competition) drugs tests in 2014 (latest number) also can't help. By comparison, Roller Sports had 736 (skateboarding), sport climbing had 209, Karate 989, surfing 108, baseball+softball 1294+328.
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