Chess is not recognised as a sport in Ireland. Therefore the National Sports Council do not provide any public funds for administration of the Sport or for helping elite players compete abroad.
The Irish Chess Union is run on a shoestring, dependent on members fees. Annual income is only about 20,000. As a result there are only very limited funds to support players selected to play for Ireland in FIDE (world) or ECU events. Most players adult and junior who travel are supported from their own or parents Funds. Those with limited means miss out on some opportunities.
There is very limited training of potential elite players, unless their parents pay for tuition.
Sponsorship of chess is forthcoming for the weekend tournaments organised at local level, eg Bunratty, Kilkenny, Malahide, Galway.
Junior Chess competitions were sponsored for a five year period by The ESB from 1997 to 2002. The competitions have continued but fees have had to be raised and there has been a fall off in participation levels. The Irish junior championships and the training of an Irish squad were sponsored by a toilet roll firm, for a three year period from 2002 to 2004 inclusive. There are no significant sponsorships at present.
Objective of this paper
This paper will argue that it is time to adopt a radical new approach to funding of chess. It will set out a programme to be funded and a new approach to funding.
What does Chess need ?
- Ideally Irish Chess needs the following
- (a) a paid development officer, who would work full time to develop the sport, particularly in the schools. (S)he would liaise with and assist existing development foci in Kilkenny, Limerick and Galway but would primarily be concerned with creating similar developments in other areas. (S)he would not compete with existing schools competitions but would endeavour to create new customers for them. Gross estimate of costs including PRSI 50,000 plus 15,000 travelling expenses.
- (b) Squad training sessions for approximately 30 junior players, throughout the year. Fees to trainers and travelling expenses 7,000
- (c) Coaching for players chosen to represent Ireland in European and world juniorChampionships, before the event and payment to coach at these events 5,000. Subsidised transport.
- (d) Irish Junior Championships; 3,000
- (e) Subsidisation of school chess competitions 5,000
- (f) Irish Senior Championships. Run on a shoestring and an apparently unattractive event.. 5,000
- (g) Subsidised travel grants to enable elite players seeking IM or GM norms to compete at international events. 10,000
- (h) Grand Prix tournament.. Being subsidised from members fees at present. 5,000
- (i) Larger subsidies for those competing in Olympiad and European championships. 3,000. Payment for coaches at these events.
The figures are only indicative but show that to do the job properly would require an annual sum of about 100,000.
While some sponsorship has been obtained historically for high profile tournaments, Nothing along this scale has ever been sought.
I believe that this degree of sponsorship would not be obtainable. Sponsorship implies that the company involved assesses the payback to itself on its sponsorship. The small chess playing base makes it unlikely that a return on sponsorship could be obtained.
In the era that we are now in with allegedly thousands of millionaires in Ireland, as a result of the Celtic Tiger, I believe we should endeavour to tap into these millions by seeking donations as a philantropic gesture.
I believe we should present a programme such as the above to potential philantropists and seek to ensure a flow of about 100,000 per annum.