The Hindu's video: This is how Chennai is decked up for the 44th Chess Olympiad The Hindu

The All-India Chess Federation, in collaboration with the Tamil Nadu government, is just a few moves away from hosting the 44th FIDE Chess Olympiad. This event is set to happen in Mamallapuram near Chennai and will go on from July 28 to August 10. The event mascot, Thambi, the knight in white veshti, has been placed in important tourist locations to attract more buzz for the event. The mega chess event is about to see a participation of around 1700 players, officials and volunteers Around 1800 rooms in the nearby five-star hotels and another 650 in four-star properties are blocked. Another 500 rooms, in three-stars and two-star hotels, are reserved for volunteers and invited winners of the age-group chess tournaments that were held in all the States to mark the Chess Olympiad. The TN Government has also made special boarding and lodging arrangements for members of the police and health departments during the event. Nearly 125 buses, 100s SUVs and six high-end luxury cars will transport players and dignitaries during the event. Special air-conditioned waiting areas at the parking lot will be readied for the guests. A dedicated corridor is planned on the highway for smooth movement to and from the venue. The road from Chennai airport to Mahabalipuram is being widened and beautified. The buses and metro trains have also had a makeover to promote the event. The Tamil Nadu Health Department will deploy medical teams and ambulances, and take up COVID-19 screening at airports, hotels and venues, besides providing health insurance cover of up to ₹2 lakh each for 1,900-odd players participating in the 44th Chess Olympiad. The Opening Ceremony will be held in Chennai’s Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium. The TN government’s guests include several imminent personalities from the State and the film world. Music composer and Chennai’s very own A. R. Rehman will perform live Originally, this event was supposed to be held at Moscow but was moved to Tamil Nadu due to the Russia-Ukraine war. Russia’s loss is India’s gain. Thank you for watching our video! You can subscribe to our channel here: https://bit.ly/3c8Adi6 Visit https://www.thehindu.com/ for the latest updates, analysis, opinions, and more. You can also download our apps: Android: https://bit.ly/3nboBEi iOs: https://apple.co/3EDCwt4 The Hindu is committed to keeping you up-to-date with information on the developments in India and the world. We promise to deliver quality journalism that stays away from vested interest and political propaganda. You can support us by subscribing to our digital offerings here: https://bit.ly/3emywiz Follow us: Twitter: https://twitter.com/the_hindu Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/the_hindu/