Expo 2020 will hold the World Chess Championship, striking world-class players against each other for the first time in history, according to UAE Ambassador to India Dr Ahmed Albanna. Interacting with Indian reporters at the UAE Embassy on the occasion of the UAE’s Golden Jubilee Celebrations, which began on November 24 and will end on December 16, Albanna said: “Magnus Carlsen from Norway and lan Nepomniachtchi from Russia will start their games this week for a 2.25 million US dollars prize”. Expo 2020, which began on October 1 this year in Dubai and will end on March 31, 2022. In 2021, the UAE will celebrate its 50th anniversary.
Since its official opening on October 1, more than four million people have visited Expo 2020, according to Albanna. He stated, “In terms of the number of virtual visits, figures show that those going online to catch a glimpse of the Expo reached a staggering 22 million so far. The Expo has so far attracted over 200,000 students from several schools across the UAE.” During an interaction, Albanna talked at length about the UAE celebrating the Golden Jubilee of its formation. The ambassador said, “His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE announced 2021 as the ‘Year of the 50th’ to commemorate 50 years of the UAE’s formation in 1971”. He further said, “From April 6, 2021, until March 31, 2022, the UAE will celebrate its remarkable journey over the last 50 years and begin preparing for the next 50.” UAE has achieved significant milestones since the announcement of the union in 1971.