Rare photos from Havana Olympiad 1966
SPRAGGETT ON CHESS
Fidel Castro welcoming Joaquim Durao. The person in the middle was either a secretary or part of the security.
It is always a satisfying feeling to get hold of rare photos — especially those that have never been published before! This evening Joaquim Durao sent me the following two photos from the Havana 1966 Olympiad.
The first is from a reception held at the Portuguese Embassy in Havana. Because of the very cordial relationship between Bobby Fischer and Joaquim Durao, Bobby accepted the invitation to appear–something that he rarely did!
RECEPTION AT THE PORTUGUESE EMBASSY
From left: the ambassador Gonzaga Ferreira, William Addison, Francisco Rego, the yugoslav chess journalist Dmitrje Bjelica, the common friend who introduced Durao to Fischer during the Leipzig Olympiad 6 years earlier,Robert Byrne, Maria de Lourdes – the ambassador’s wife-, Bobby, Joaquim Durao and Antonio Rocha.
The Havana Olympiad was the first mediatic opportunity for the Castro regime to show the rest of the world how much Cuba had progressed since taking power in 1959. No expenses were spared in making sure that this would be the best Olympiad ever!
As an example, each team was given a very expensive gift, shipped to any country of destination: a copy of the official chess set used as well as the table and inlaid board! Joaquim still has his at his home in Lisbon!
AT THE GALA DINNER FOR ALL PARTICIPANTS
Fidel Castro welcoming Joaquim Durao. The person in the middle was either a secretary or part of the security.SPRAGGETT ON CHESS