The Social Chess Foundation is closely linked to the International Chess Federation and the European Chess Union
Our foundation gives priority support to major international programs initiated or encouraged by these two organisations. The leaders of the Foundation exercise responsibilities within these organizations.
FIDE
The International Chess Federation (FIDE) is the governing body of the sport of chess, and it regulates all international chess competitions. Constituted as a non-governmental institution, it was recognized by the International Olympic Committee as a Global Sporting Organization in 1999. FIDE currently has its headquarters in Lausanne, but it was initially founded in 1924 in Paris under the motto “Gens una Sumus” (Latin for “We are one Family”). It was one of the very first International Sports Federations, alongside the governing bodies of the sports of Football, Cricket, Swimming, and Auto Racing. It is now one of the largest, encompassing 199 countries as affiliate members, in the form of National Chess Federations. Chess is nowadays a truly global sport, with dozens of millions of players in all the continents, and more than 60 million games on average played every day.
European Chess Union
European Chess Union is an independent association founded in 1985 in Graz, Austria; ECU is the only organisation which has the right to organize various European Chess Championships; European Chess Union has 54 National Federation Members; Every year ECU organizes more than 20 prestigious events and championships; More than 8,000,000 of players and chess fans in Europe.