Stamps of Norway: Chess Olympiad (2014)

As arrangements for the Chess Olympiad in Tromsø fall into place, Norway Post is celebrating the Norwegian Chess Federation (NSF) with a new stamp issue. NSF turns 100 in 2014, and those celebrating will enjoy the growing interest in the sport of chess nationwide. The membership of 2,500 people from 105 clubs in 16 chess circles could well grow following Magnus Carlsen’s victory at the World Chess Championship last winter. If he retains his position as the world’s foremost chess player, we can expect even more media coverage of chess in future.
The Norwegian Chess Federation was founded on 20 July 1914 in Oslo (then Kristiania). The sport and its fans were later divided into two federations, and in fact the Workers’ Federation of Sports had more chess members than the Chess Federation. After the Second World War, a period of sports strikes and no chess activities, the parties met in 1946 and both the chess and sporting environments were given their own association. NSF was renamed the Norwegian Chess Federation, and work began immediately on organizing tournaments for both novices and more practised players.
Magnus Carlsen’s achievements have been a strong shot of adrenaline for the sport of chess in Norway, and the Federation has expanded its administration to deal with the increasing interest. When the 41st Chess Olympiad moves to Tromsø on 1 August, it will be four years since the city won the Norwegian competition to host the event. In 2010, the general assembly of the World Chess Federation chose Tromsø to organise the 41st “Chess Olympiad 2014”. This has resulted in lots of publicity for the sport, and sales of both chessboards and chess pieces in Norway have increased substantially. The Norwegian Chess Federation is an extremely vigorous centenarian that can expect strong growth in the years to come.
Source: WOPA Stamps