EUROPEAN BRIDGE LEAGUE

EXCERPTS OF PRESIDENT'S REPORT
TO EBL GENERAL ASSEMBLY
MENTON, FRANCE, 17th JUNE 2003

After his welcome and remembering those players who have recently passed away, the President proceeded to examine the past, the present and the future of the EBL.

We report hereunder some excerpts.

Concerning the activity of the legislature

'The legislature which ends today has been characterised by its truly remarkable operational fervour and I can sincerely say that the results achieved, in my opinion, are satisfactory, even if there is still some work to be done to complete the tasks we set ourselves. We will now deal with each work sector one by one.'

'We began, therefore, to realise the political part of our programme regarding the institutionalisation of a biennial meeting with the NBOs at a sort of permanent school where it was possible to discuss problems openly, frankly and in depth, without the formal constraints of the General Assembly where time is limited and there is a rigid Agenda. I believe that this has been the greatest and most gratifying objective, both for the NBOs and the EBL Officers, as it finally brought about a unity of intent and an amalgam of thought. These are the prime aims of a supranational League where the interest to pursue and safeguard is one which is for all in general and not specific to anyone in particular, where the principle of mutual and reciprocal assistance prevails and not that of autarchic selfishness - obviously while defending and reinforcing the individual historical and cultural particulars – where all feel they belong irrespective of size and power, and where the integrated and misfits do not exist. It is clear that each one, bearing in mind what the unit has metabolised, and with his own enthusiasm, capacity and willingness, can then increase his own resources and develop his own movement appropriate to the qualitative and quantitative possibilities offered by his own territory.'

'We cultivated relations with the EOC and the European Community, where now we are received and treated the same as all other supranational organisations, and where we are setting up a support project for all NBOs for the promotion of the discipline of bridge, through the introduction of bridge to young people and in schools.'

'The first edition of the Champions Cup, organised in Warsaw with eight teams who had won their own National Championships, selected from the top eight countries in the European Team Championships in Salsomaggiore, was a great success. This was thanks also to the contribution of the Polish Federation and the sponsor, CA~IB. It is an event of the highest technical level, which could boost bridge’s image if supported by the appropriate promotion. In Warsaw the event was given significant media coverage. This year the second edition will take place in Rome, hosted by one of Europe’s most prestigious sports clubs, Tennis Club Parioli, and I am sure that once again it will be highly successful. '

'Here in Menton the European Open Championship is taking place for the first time. The front page of the first edition of the Daily Bulletin carried the headline, 'A Star is Born', and I sincerely believe that no other headline could be more appropriate for this great event. I have already mentioned, and it might seem superfluous and repetitive to do so again, the numbers and the quality of participation here; they are absolutely outstanding and far beyond any optimistic prediction. Once and for all the popular myth that a bridge event cannot be successful without money prizes and low entry fees has been proved wrong. In fact the contrary is true and Menton provides the evidence; what really matters is the quality of the service which one wants, and which sometimes, unfortunately, one fails to offer participants. I must emphasise that the service we have tried to offer here should be considered on a par with the best which can be provided today. I am strongly convinced that even the most hardcore player, completely immersed in the distribution and squeeze problems, cannot fail to realise what has gone on and is going on behind the scenes to make it possible for him to concentrate on their solution. More than one hundred professionals began work here 4 days before the start of the event and they will keep working from 15 to 20 hours per day till the end so that everything runs smoothly. Organising an international championship of this size requires an incredible human and economic effort and I believe that we should all be proud of managing to do so, especially considering that if previously sponsors were scarce, due to the current world economic situation they have completely disappeared. I read somewhere that the entry fees for Menton were too high and would therefore put people off. I do not know in fact if this is true or not, in view of the duration and technical standard of the event, but in my personal opinion the only applicable parameter for comparison is that of quality of service, with the greatest attention paid to every technical detail, from the setting up, to the duplication of all boards, the registration and publication of results and rankings, the convenience of free water and beverages, the services of the press room, the printing and distributing of the Daily Bulletin, written by an impressive and highly qualified staff, and finally the technical value of the championship format, its running and management.'

'Unfortunately accidental mishaps can happen in the best of families and they conflict with the best of intentions; 'errare humanum est', but it is always necessary to intervene immediately with the correct remedy since, obviously, 'perseverare est diabolicum'.

Concerning Bridge as a Sport

'That bridge is a sport is now beyond doubt. This is not because Samaranch declared so authoritatively at the Museum of Sport in Lausanne, not because the ancients advocated the principle 'mens sana in corpore sano', not because the head is an integral part of the body, and not because José Damiani, Gianarrigo Rona and others have written countless pages, advocating and proving this. This is true because a bridge competition has all the characteristics and aims of a sports competition, because in purely physical and muscular sports the athlete’s body does not finish at his shoulders and because in these sports it is the head which distinguishes the champion, the star from the second leading athlete. When one wants to emphasise the quality of a champion one says, 'He uses his head'! Why therefore in bridge, where the head is an integral but not exclusive part, should the head be a discriminating element? Entering into detail, the specific components of the discipline are the same as for all sports: timing, attacking and defending, strategy, tactics, game plan. What distinguishes the great playmaker in football, basketball, volleyball, for example, is the capacity to predict the counter-defence of the opponents: and what is perfect technique in bridge if not this? I could cite thousands of other analogies, but I think it is unnecessary.'

'Also in this respect it would be foolish to go against the flow, to protest the uselessness of initiatives in this direction, to predict their failure. We are considered very highly by the EOC, and therefore by the IOC, and we cannot, and certainly do not wish, to render useless all the sacrifices we have made. Only four years ago we were recognised by the IOC and already we have surpassed other sports organisations, with far longer sporting histories and greater recognition, in terms of image of solidity, organisational capacity, and potential. Those who consider it a failure the fact that we have not yet become an Olympic medal sport should reflect calmly on this. The important thing is to be part of the Olympic family, to be able consequently to make use of all the resulting benefits, both moral and economic. Participating in the Olympic Games simply represents the final consequence, certainly extremely important, which can be achieved in the appropriate time and way, bearing in mind the youth of bridge compared to other disciplines which have been on the waiting list for decades and also that it is necessary to follow the right road, step by step and at the appropriate time, and not to think of risky giant leaps. José Damiani, who is carrying out most efficacious linking work with the IOC and the other international sports organisations, and to whom, firstly, goes the credit for our successes, has already told us and will update us here on the latest very important progress towards reaching the final goal. Clearly we must all believe in this project and do our best in our own countries with the National Olympic Committees to obtain recognition for our National Federation. This is the true goal to pursue.'

'In a very short time we have made excellent progress and we should be proud of this. Just one year ago at the IOC Trophy event in Salt Lake City, Mario Pescante, the EOC President and a most influential Member of the IOC and the Italian Ministry of Sport, confided to me that the progress of bridge in such a short time was amazing. So you see, my friends, how strange the world is, since in our own world there are those who complain about this road! What is important, however, is that we go ahead, proudly, with heads held high and flags flying.'

Concerning Relations with the WBF and Other Zones

'My hope is to be able to have a radical change in a short time. If it is true that the zones must have the guarantee of being represented in the Executive Council, it is also true that the NBOs’ Congress must acquire the sovereignty, which it expects as its right, to appoint and verify the work of the administrators (the Executive Council), expressing consensus or dissent through the vote. As President Damiani rightly said, the NBOs represent the body of the WBF and it is not possible to involve them and make them feel part of this body if they are, as today, detached, having no possibility to intervene.'

'As proposed by José Damiani, the Restructuring Committee was instituted to study the new rules to give the WBF a modern, democratic, flexible structure appropriate to the norms of the Olympic Charter and to the regulations of the IOC. José is working very hard in this area. As you can well understand, the work is neither easy nor simple since the fundamental point is always that of guaranteeing the right balance and offering all Zones equal opportunities, and one must also consider that the passage from old to new must, wherever possible, take place without causing trauma or upset. The WBF is the highest body in the world of bridge. It is the body which dictates the laws and rules which must be followed to the letter by all affiliates. The Zones were created to permit better organisation, based on the perfect knowledge of the requirements of the territory, through specific autonomy in the legislative and regulatory fields. In any case, the WBF is a Federation of National Federations which constitute its assembly base. The Members of the Executive Council of the WBF must, therefore, act in the global and general interest of the entire movement and not only in the interest of their own territory. To this end, there exist the Leagues of the various Zones.'

'With the other Zones, and with the ACBL in particular, relations are excellent, characterised by a spirit of friendship, collaboration, reciprocal loyalty, with, however, due respect for each one’s requirements, but nevertheless aimed only and exclusively at an ever greater popularity and strength of bridge.'

'The ACBL and EBL together represent the two most significant Zones quantitatively and qualitatively, and therefore they must work together and cooperate towards a common goal, with shared objectives and not only because both are parts of the WBF. The exchange of ideas, experiences, programmes, people and means, must constitute a constant and continuing element, and not an occasional or accidental one. There cannot and must not be conflict or antagonism, irrespective of the healthy, strong and sacrosanct competitiveness in sporting events, which is not only right, and right that it is thus, but which represents the flywheel of all sports and is the only spring which provokes the emotion, interest, curiosity, and image which make a sport great. After these official meetings, we had informal meetings with the officials. Simply by talking sincerely and frankly, we eliminated a whole series of misunderstandings which previously had seemed to have created a sort of wall between our two realities and then we discovered … the obvious: we all work on the same wavelength, for the same ends and objectives. Most importantly, we discovered that we were, and want to be, true friends and this, believe me, was the best result obtained. The presence here in Menton today of the top officials of the ACBL, the Past President of the WBF and President of the South American Zone, over one hundred players, including all the champions, is the best proof of what I have said.'

Concerning the EBL Today and Tomorrow

'I believe that in the past four years not only have the programmes we set ourselves been achieved, but much more besides and very good results have been obtained. What gives me greatest satisfaction is the fact that we managed to ensure that all the affiliated Federations, with some rare exceptions, which nevertheless confirm the rule, now feel part of the League, not only in a general and formal sense but in a concrete and participative sense. The meetings, seminars, congresses held with officials and technicians have enabled everyone to touch 'the EBL reality', to get to know it, to feel an integral part of it; they have enabled everyone to get to know each other, to exchange ideas and recount their own experiences. Participation in the fundamental and constructive sense and therefore no longer formal and marginal. In a word, the EBL has represented what it should be institutionally: a source of educational, social, cultural and sporting enrichment for all its affiliates. '

'But we must not get too carried away by easy enthusiasm and we should keep our feet well on the ground. We all know that we have gone through times of suffering, we have had times of tension, not everything has gone smoothly, some areas are unsatisfactory, others will soon be obsolete, others must still be improved and developed, there are still problems to be resolved, not only financial ones. Let’s remember that financial health is not measured by the acquisition of greater resources, but by the strict control of expenditure. The resources must be focused on investments aimed at development and improvement, undoubtedly without neglecting image and representation, but cutting out resolutely what is superfluous and not indulging in expenses which, although may be useful in theory, are not strictly necessary. As our not so distant past teaches us, in the euphoria of the presence of resources (i.e. sponsorship) it is easy to lose the sense of measure.'

'The next four-year term must be that of the definitive consolidation of the League, of its structure and organisation; it must be that of the realisation of a platform with solid and rock-steady foundations which allows for planning calmly and without suffering for the future.'

'For this reason I believe that each Member of the Executive Committee must be given responsibilities and have a certain appointment, and not more than one, in order to be able to dedicate himself completely to it. One must consider that sometimes being out of date and obsolete is the result of excessive adherence to habits and ideas which, even though supported by enthusiasm, necessitate review either because they are no longer productive or because they are no longer appropriate to future projections.'

'This simply signifies, by an improved, more rational and efficient distribution of energy, a precise willingness to renew and invigorate, which are the fruits of a new policy and of new programmes of the League, which must always and only look to the future, with continual renewal, although in the continuity of the experience and results gained. And these are principles from which I personally will never turn away.'

Concerning his Final Considerations

'Before closing, please allow me, dear friends, to thank affectionately and applaud all my collaborators. I have always maintained openly, and I continue to be convinced most sincerely, that ours has been a great team, which has worked excellently with competence, dedication, loyalty and with self-sacrifice. I repeat once again that I am proud to have been its coordinator and I reaffirm, asking you to believe that this is not meant as electoral propaganda, that I trust in its reconfirmation to lead the League for the next four-year mandate.'

'I have purposely left José Manuel de Oliveira to last, not because I had forgotten him, but I wish to dedicate a special paragraph to him. José entered the Executive Committee in 1995 in Vilamoura, where he masterminded the organisation of that extraordinary and unforgettable European Championship, and since then he has served with passion, self-denial, and true love of the League, of which he was appointed Vice-President two years ago. He has dedicated himself in particular to relations with the NBOs and has carried out truly notable work, setting down the basis for all its future developments. A loyal friend, a gentleman of the old school, the needle on the scale in moments of tension, who, may I say, is a survivor of a endangered species, who has given and taught us so much, enriching all of us with a humanity which will always guide us throughout our lives. José has decided to leave but has promised to remain always close to us to continue with us the work he began, to continue to teach and comfort us. For these reasons I am honoured and moved to propose to you his nomination as Honorary Vice-President of the EBL, which I am certain you will wish to ratify, not with applause but an ovation.'

'I cannot and do not wish to forget our excellent collaborators of the Championship staff, led by Ton Kooijman and Federigo Ferrari, and those from the Milan office: Christina MacEachen, Andrea Pagani, Federica Zorzoli; from Athens, George Georgopoulos, and from Ghent, Dirk De Clercq: there is just one word to describe them - fantastic!'

'In these past four years we have always operated together in perfect harmony, step after step, also with a healthy exchange of opinions. All our activity and work has been gratified by the approval of the Assemblies and Congresses year after year. Together we have lived through good times and not so good times, times of crisis and times of wellbeing, and now we are facing a new episode in the life of the League and I am sure that, as always, we will be convinced right to the end to work together to smooth out the problems, improve progressively the consistency, reach the objectives we set ourselves, and then also to give force, credibility, image and resources to our Federations, which are the flywheel of our entire movement.'

'The economic junction we are crossing at this historic time is not favourable and certainly does not help us, but we have survived worse and have been successful and I remain fundamentally optimistic. I am sure that one can predict a great future for us also since the foundations laid down, and on which the League rests, are solid and unshakeable. Men pass but institutions remain and our League more than others. We have made the history of bridge and we will keep on making it. We must be proudly aware of this because we know that always, in the end, we are ready to answer 'present' to every call.'

'Dear friends, now I am really at the end and I hope not to have bored you, but allow me to thank all the European bridgeplayers, who by their participation, make possible the realisation of our programmes. Finally, I once again wish to thank all of you, not only for what you do for our discipline, but also for the friendship, affection, esteem and cordiality, which you have always shown me and for which I am most proud.'

'About one thing, however, you must be aware: that you, all of you, from the first to the last, are the European Bridge League and as long as the administrators can count on you, no goal is unreachable. We are all equals, there are no children of a lesser god: this is my belief, from which I will never deviate for any reason.'