ICCF 2021 Congress – Updated Status (15/04/2021)
Thursday, April 15, 2021: The updated plan for the ICCF 2021 Congress
After considering data from numerous sources continued conversation with delegates and officials, monitoring world response to the pandemic and continued discussion with the host sponsor and hotel (which coincidentally remains closed), the Executive Board has decided the prudent measure is to cancel the face-to-face portion of the 2021 Congress.
Our Scottish hosts, notably Gordon Anderson, have worked tirelessly for two years to organize and host what was sure to be a memorable and successful in-person Congress in Glasgow. The amount of “legwork,” coordination, and attention-to-detail in arranging this Congress has been admirable.
The Scottish Correspondence Chess Association (SCCA) was established in 1977 and is an affiliate of the Scottish Chess Association (now Chess Scotland), which was founded in Glasgow in 1884, and this would be an excellent opportunity to celebrate a long-standing tradition. The SCCA has noted that they are ready to submit another bid to host the 2022 Congress in the same location as previous years.
We will follow the same format as in previous years when we could not meet face-to-face. The ICCF Proposal window will open today. I encourage all delegates and officials to use the proposal comments sections to ask, query, understand, challenge, and get to a position in which you are comfortable voting a position on the proposal.
We are also considering opening the Congress to a 1-day video session, in which time controls and discussions will be tightly controlled. We feel this is an essential step in the evolution of ICCF, where delegates, officials in ICCF, and member federation delegates may dial in and experience what does go on in Congress (one word of warning – you might want to have a small bottle of Scotch Whiskey handy for those memorable Congress minutes).
Timetable
15/04/2021: Open the proposal window.
31/07/2021: Three weeks before Congress - last day to submit a proposal.
07/08/2021: One week after all proposals are submitted, voting will open.
21/08/2021: Virtual Congress
28/08/2021: Voting will end (one week after Congress).
[NB: all date expirations refer to ICCF chess time and the end of the day as 11:59 p.m. or 23:59].
As more specifics are unveiled; we will be sure to get them out to you ASAP. If needed, we are also considering setting up Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) about Congress – 2021. If you have questions, please send them to me (dr.millstone@gmail.com), and I will compile the questions and hopefully broadcast the answers for all regularly.
We are also exploring ways of getting medals and certificates to our well-deserving players, and as we sort through the many options (and costs), we will certainly report back on where we stand.
On behalf of the Executive Board.
/s/
Michael Millstone
ICCF General Secretary