Dear Dmitriy,
my first question in these days: Are you healthy and in good mood and condition ? I haven't heard about the situation in the Ukraine, any restrictions besides "noone can leave the country".

Well, after contacting Artem I got the message that you put a notice on the EGC-webpage about postponing a final decision till midth of May. This point was an important agenda-point in our last Skype-meeting of the EGF executive-board. So I write to you today on behalf of the EGF executive-board, it's not (only) my personal opinion.

We think that a decision midst of May is too late, because many persons, who registered for the congress, are afraid of losing money if not cancelling in time accomodation / flights - independant from the entry-fee. On the other hand we understand that you are trying to decide as late as possible, still hoping on "a better environment, worldwide". We also want to avoid any losses for your Go-organisation, but, sorry to say, from day to day it looks more likely that a congress in the Ukraine in July/Augsut 2020 won't be possible, because of too many personal restrictions for the participants (no flights, not allowed to travel, when coming back two weeks isolation, and so on). When I'm thinking about the up to 200 possible players/guests from China I am convinced that at the moment noone is believing on a realistic chance for travelling to Europe in July...

To make it very clear: It is your decision to cancel the EGC 2020, not the decision of the EGF. But the EGF-board decided that we will do whatever we can that the EGC2021 can happen in the Ukraine, like planned for 2020. Romania, the planned organizer of the EGC2021, will take the EGC2022 if you want the EGC2021. This is fixed and has been confirmed again by Catalin Taranu. We are at the moment in the lucky position that we have no EGC-candidate for 2022. So, with a congress in 2022 in Romania, we don't need to talk with any other country.

Facit: From the EGF-side everything is prepared to postpone the EGC2020 to 2021, and additional the congress 2022 can be fixed for Romania.
Last not least: We all want to come to the Ukraine and we honour your engagement, preparations and investments for the congress. But it would help all of us - and I'm sure I can say this on behalf of all European players, and our friends from Far East - if you postpone the congress right now. Please don't let us wait additional 5 weeks.

By the way, I will put Natalia Kovaleva in her function as a member of the EGF-board on copy. You can contact her whenever you want as well.

Hoping to hear from you soon

Best regards
Martin Stiassny (on behalf of the EGF executive-board)

The organizers of the next congress in Kamianets-Podilskyi Ukraine are positive that they can hold the event this year.

Given the current situation with COVID-19, it is impossible to predict anything now. We hope that the Congress will take place this year. However, we need to announce that the deadline for reporting whether the Congress will take place according to plan or not, is the end of April.

Due to the conditions created by the COVID-19 outbreak, European Go Congress 2020-2021 is canceled and moved to the year 2023.
Additionally, the European Youth Championship, which was planned for the second week of the EGC 2021 as a face-to-face tournament in Ukraine is canceled as well.

The next European Go Congress will be held in Vatra Dornei (Romania) in the year 2022.