3D image dedicated to Baku Chess Olympiad completed -VIDEO

By Laman Ismayilova

Renowned Ukrainian 3D street artist, Alex Maksiov has visited Baku at the invitation of the Baku Chess Olympiad Operating Committee to create 3D street art image dedicated to the 42nd World Chess Olympiad.

Engaged in street art since 1990, Alex is the winner of numerous festivals held in Germany, Italy and Russia.

The artist created the image in the Baku Boulevard (near the Puppet Theater). It took Alex three days to complete the 3D image.

The image has caused a great deal of interest among the residents and guests of Baku.

"I am pleased to come to Azerbaijan. When I received the invitation from the Baku Chess Olympiad Operating Committee, I thought of creating something interesting. You can see the venue of the Olympiad, Crystal Hall, and a chess board on my image. The chess board descends into the playing area on an American roller coaster", said Alex Maksiov while talking to the press service of the Baku Chess Olympiad.

"The idea behind this is that the attention of the whole world will be focused on Crystal Hall. The world’s best players will be gathered in Baku. I am inviting everyone to come to the Boulevard and take pictures of the 3D image. 3D is a reflection of reality.

This is my second work in Baku. I also attended a 3D street-art festival outside the Maiden Tower in Baku two years ago", he added.

Attending the ceremony to launch the 3D image, the star ambassadors of the 42nd World Chess Olympiad, the producer and manager of the “Bu sheherde” theater Mushvig Abbasov and actor Joshgun Rahimov, said Azerbaijan had a good track record of hosting prestigious events. They also mentioned the successful performance of Azerbaijani sportsmen in international competitions.

The star ambassadors noted that they look forward to more victories from the national team. Mushvig Abbasov and Joshgun Rahimov informed about their work in the area of promoting chess and encouraged the younger generation to take interest in this game.

The Olympiad, scheduled for September 1-14, will take place in the Crystal Hall, once hosting Eurovision Song Contest in 2012.

With 2,000 chess masters from 180 counties, FIDE’s biennial chess tournament, will gather teams from all over the world to compete for the best title.

The budget for the Olympiad is 13.3 million euros. Some 6.8 million euros are set aside for first-class accommodation for the players and delegates. Another 1 will go to the FIDE Commission for World Championships & Olympiads and intellectual rights.