The International Chess Federation (FIDE) held an emergency meeting and decided to relocate its tournament this summer from Moscow to a location to be determined.
The decision to find a new host for the Chess Olympiad is due to the worsening geopolitical situation between Russia and the Ukraine.
The tournament which features 190 countries was scheduled to take place in Moscow from July 26 to August 8.
“FIDE Council has decided that the 44th Chess Olympiad, including the competition for players with disabilities and the FIDE Congress, will not take place in Russia. FIDE will do our utmost to find another organizer for the Olympiad and provide more information in due time,” the FIDE tweeted.
The International Olympic Committee’s (IOC) Executive Board told International Sports Federations to relocate their events to other countries in response to the ongoing Russian conflict with Ukraine.
UEFA has already taken action in voting to relocate their Champions League final venue from St. Petersburg, Russia to Paris. Formula 1 has also cancelled the Russian Grand Prix this September amid the ongoing crisis.
Citing the longstanding Olympic Truce, the IOC noted the governments of Belarus and Russia should take the necessary steps to ensure the safety and security of their participating athletes.
Explosions were heard in Ukraine’s capital on Friday as Russian special forces carried out their second day of operations.
On Monday, Vladimir Putin had recognized the independence of Donetsk and Luhansk from Ukraine and ordered Russia’s special forces to protect the people in the Donbas region.
Several countries, including the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, and the European Union, have imposed various sanctions on Russia.