27 World Chess Olympiad Dubai 1986 Opening Ceremony | Part 2

The opening ceremony of the 27th World Chess Olympiad in 1986 was held at a stadium of the then Central Military Command. The same area is now where the world’s tallest building, the Burj Khalifa, stands in Downtown Dubai. Being the first global sporting event to be hosted by the emirate, the ceremony was attended by the late Sheikh Maktoum Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the former Ruler of Dubai, along with His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, current Ruler of Dubai, Sheikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, current Deputy Ruler of Dubai and Honorary President of Dubai Chess and Culture Club, and Sheikh Butti Bin Maktoum, who was the head of the organising committee.
The lavish opening ceremony was also attended by high-ranking Fide officials led by then president Florencio Campomanes, along with the reigning world champion Garry Kasparov and women’s world champion Maya Chiburdanidze. With 108 teams from 107 countries, it was the first time the Olympiad had more than 100 participants.
Video credit: UAE Chess Federation