EUROPEAN BRIDGE LEAGUE

Anna Maria Torlontano
EBL Women Committee Chairman

Turin, October 2002

For the EBL NBO Officers' Seminar
For the EBL Teaching Seminar

European Women's Bridge Festival Report
Palermo, Italy 21-26 May 2002

Dear friends,

It was a meeting that all cultured people, who love the beautiful, could not miss. And we were there, on time!

I am very satisfied to have been able to offer, with my Women's Committee, such an occasion to the Women Bridge players who travelled from all over Europe to participate in the European Women's Bridge Festival 2002.

In my speech in the Opening Ceremony, which was held at the swimming pool area of the Jolly Hotel, the prestigious Festival venue, I spoke to the ladies about the importance of booking the flights and hotels in good time. Usually the majority of bridge players, and especially the ladies, take the decision and then try to book at the very last moment, despite the fact that in the brochures which were sent to all of them, the deadline was emphasised. Well, what happened?

Many players could not participate because the hotels were overbooked; this period of the year in Palermo is very high season. We had requests for help from everywhere, but for the majority we could not do anything. Palermo is a destination appreciated and loved by people from all over Europe , and it was sad that we had to disappoint so many people. I do hope that this will be a lesson for the future!

The atmosphere created by all the ladies who attended was fantastic. We were so happy to be together, really together . Never like this in the past!

In my speech at the closing ceremony, at the prize-giving, I wanted to emphasise two very important goals that we of the Women's Committee wish to reach in organising this Festival: the first is to increase Women's Bridge in Europe , stimulating more and more players to participate in bridge competitions, the second is to offer the women players the possibility to make many new friends among people from so many different countries. I think that this kind of socialising is very productive and stimulating for the future of our organisation.

Obviously the choice of venue is critical – but I pointed out that if the “tourism” is pleasant and important, bridge is much more important and must always be the principal reason for all our events.

It is not very easy to find beautiful, interesting and attractive places in which we can organise these events. I was so lucky to get a venue like Palermo . We of the Women's Committee have no words to thank the Borzì organisation enough. They are competent, experienced and very great friends of the Italian Federation and me personally. They are always at our disposal and able to cope with any situation.

Nearly all the ladies received a gift. My special thanks go to Maria Teresa Lavazza, who offered me more than 50 prizes, and to the Italian Federation which provided the cups for the prize-giving. I got many prizes, not just money prizes of course , also from many sponsors in Palermo .

My thanks also to Marijke Blanken who accompanied me to Palermo, to Anna Gudge, our indefatigable secretary, who worked for many months in silence before the Festival in her office near London, to Irena Chodorowska and Denise Gabriel, who came to Palermo as a player, for their collaboration, and finally thanks to Palermo, the wonderful city which gave us the opportunity to spend 5 unforgettable days in its legendary beauty.

Our programme for the event was simple, and meant that we had the opportunity not only to play bridge but also to take advantage of our stay in Palermo , and the ladies from the 14 participating countries had a wonderful time. 6 pairs from Armenia and 2 or 4 from Israel withdrew at the very last moment. The Armenians were already in Rome.

We all arrived on Tuesday 21 st May, to be greeted with welcome cocktails after the registration. We had an Opening Ceremony and this was followed by a Friendly Tournament so we had the chance to get to know each other.

On the second day, the Wednesday, we were treated to an excellent guided sight-seeing tour of Palermo . After that, I think we were quite relieved to sit quietly for a 24-board individual tournament!

Every day after dinner most of the players enjoyed playing bridge again. The Directors were at our disposal to organise friendly tournaments.

We went to the famous and enchanting “ Temples Valley ” in Agrigento and the Greek Temple in Segesta . Professional guides took the ladies around the archaeological sites and monuments. These areas are unique in the world.

On both Friday and Saturday 2 other (optional) tours were organised: the very beautiful Monreale Cathedral and Mondello, Palermo 's most chic beach. On Friday afternoon and evening there were the first two 22-board sessions, with the third session on Saturday afternoon. The bridge was played in such good spirit and with such enjoyment by all the participants.

On Saturday evening we held the Prize-Giving followed by the Victory Banquet. The winning players in the Pairs will receive European Master Points as well.

It is incredible, on the very first day many of the players started asking me:

“Anna Maria, have you decided where the next festival will be?”

On Sunday I met the President of the Cyprus Bridge Federation here in Salsomaggiore and he wishes absolutely to organise this event in two years. He said that he deserves priority in the choice of venue since large numbers of Cypriot ladies participate every two years in the Women's Festival. I am awaiting their precise proposal to evaluate the offer. Also the Netherlands would be interested in the festival and we should not forget Radek's suggestion of Krakow .

Well, we will see after Menton, which I already publicised heavily during the Prize-Giving in Palermo .

Anna Maria Torlontano