FIDE Honorary President Florencio Campomanes visited museums of Khanty-Mansiysk where he learned history of the region, traditions of the indigenous peoples of North.

Exposition of the Oil and Gas Geology impressed the guest. He even had no need in interpreter. According to Florencio, by means of exhibits he acknowledged establishment of Ugra, industrial development, all the difficulties that people overcame in order to have a decent life on their land.

Mr. Campomanes has visited ethnographic museum ''Torum Maa'' twice. First time he visited it alone, then decided to take his wife and show her the peculiarities of Hanty’s and Mansy’s lives. Siberian frost couldn’t stop them. On the way to museum guest from Philippines bought a fur cap. ''My wife was enthused. We were like children - playing snowball, visited winter house. We didn’t want to leave that place. Of course, we took a lot of photos.'' – he shared his impressions. The couple was surprised by the fact that people know the history of their region, remember their roots and reverence centuries-long traditions.

Story about the historical past of the Okrug aroused guest’s interest, but the ''present'' also affected him. FIDE Honorary President as well as many players arrived in Khanty-Mansiysk from different continents was surprised by nature, modern architecture, roads of the Okrug centre and arrangement of the World Cup. ''FIDE held Team Championships in Israel, World Championships in Argentina, finishes the year of 2005 with World Cup in Khanty-Mansiysk. Everything is organized on a high level. Host country thought over all the situations that could appear. If we are to distribute prize places for hosting chess competitions according to the level of organization, to Ugra will not be on the last place!''