Table of Contents Page President's Welcome 1 Press Conference 2 The Beauty Of Bridge 3

Today, Friday 10th October 2003, we are celebrating the opening of a truly extraordinary event. It’s easy to get carried away by excitement when it’s for a discipline we love deeply and passionately, but this time the excitement is overtaken by the reality. Being here for the Champions Cup in a veritable “temple” for tennis fills us with pride and is extremely gratifying, but in particular it confirms fully our position unquestionably as a true sport. The host of journalists, personalities, authorities and champions at yesterday’s Press Conference gave us further, perhaps even unexpected, gratification.

I wish to thank Tennis Club Parioli and the Angelini Group for this great opportunity they have given us and for their warm welcome and generous hospitality.

Giving my warm welcome, in this marvellous corner of this wonderful and glorious city of Rome, I would like to thank the Clubs and their Champions. Once again they have answered our invitation with great enthusiasm and in this way they have given us the opportunity to organise a great bridge event which contributes significantly to the promotion of bridge’s image.

Ad majora.

Gianarrigo Rona
European Bridge League President