USSR first entered Chess Olympiad in 1952
SAIDY INTERVIEWS BRONSTEIN
From Chess Life, December 2007 (page 27)
BRONSTEIN: In 1981, I was invited to Iceland to lecture. [Soviet
Federation president] Krogius asked me if I had helped Korchnoi during
the 1974 match [vs. Karpov]. I said "Yes." One day before leaving for
Iceland my passport was revoked.
SAIDY: The Soviet olympic team for Helsinki in 1952 was very curious
-- the world champion was omitted. Is it true that your other players
voted him off the team? So democratic!
BRONSTEIN: No. First, we voted for the team line-up, and we placed
Botvinnik second, after Keres. [Was it to signify that Keres was
forced to lose to Botvinnik in 1948 for the crown -- AS] I was placed
fourth. Botvinnik protested, and declined to take part. Why didn't he
protest that I was placed fourth?
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