Daily Bulletin

Man at the Top

The President of the World Bridge Federation, José Damiani, recently found the time for an interview with Mark Horton.

Contract Signing

I would like to begin by finding out a little more about about José Damiani when he is not engaged in the role of President. Tell me about your family life.

It is the most enjoyable part of life, with my wife Monique, my daughter Caroline, who is married to a very good bridge player, my sons Laurent and Emmanuel, who are working in our company, and my six grand children.

How did bridge become a part of your life?

By accident, because I discovered that I had congenital osteonecrose while I was engaged in two tennis tournaments, and I had to stop playing. Then I decided to play bridge, and I was lucky enough to find good partners, and I was asked to become President of the club because of the illness of my best friend. Later on I was asked to become President of the District, and then I was asked to be President…

Your triumphs at the table?

I won six National French Championships, many Festivals, and recently a medal in the European Mixed Pairs Championships, as well as a silver medal in the Senior European Team Championships.

Clearly I spend much more time on administration that at the bridge table.

Is being President of the WBF a full time job?

Unfortunately yes! It is on voluntary basis, but I like to do it properly and the promotion of the game is in my view just as important as the organisation. That is especially important now, and with our aim to become an Olympic discipline, it never ends.

You have a brilliant record in attracting sponsors, and keeping them. What advice would you offer to other bridge organisations that have been less successful?

You are right to mention in the same sentence ‘attracting sponsors and keeping them’. As a matter of fact it is not difficult to attract them, but in order to keep them you have to show respect, to work for them, to give them what they are entitled to get back.

The Olympics: What is the latest news?

We have a strategy and we follow it. This means that we are working to be present in Salt Lake City, even with a single exhibition match, because our aim is really Turin 2006.

I understand that negotiations are taking place between the IOC, FIDE (World Chess Federation) and Australian Chess Federation on chess having a presence at the Sydney Olympics. Will bridge have a presence?

I heard the same rumours and I asked my Australian friends to inquire. I also met some people from the Sydney Organizing Committee and nobody was able to confirm. As you know, in Chess there are two organisations which are competitors , FIDE and the Chess PGA led by Garry Kasparov. Perhaps there is something happening with the latter, but we all recognise that bridge and chess have a common destiny.

Mentioning chess, France has recognised it as a sport. What about bridge?

As far I know we have the same status with the Ministry of Sports.

At the beginning of May, I met the President of the CNOSF (the French National Olympic Committee) and the French Bridge Federation has by now sent its application. I strongly believe the FFB will be accepted before the end of the year 2000.

Do you have any news about the next Bermuda Bowl?

We have signed a contract with the Indonesian Bridge Federation to organise in Bali the next Bermuda Bowl and Venice Cup and the Transnational Open Teams, at the end of October/beginning of November 2001. It will be a marvellous venue and site, and I do not have any reason today to have any doubt about what will be a great success.

Wales Team Profile

Some of you may know that in the Chinese Calendar this year is “The Year of the Dragon”. This is the first appearance of our Welsh Dragon in European Bridge and we are delighted to be here. Since January, England, Wales and Scotland are devolved within the EBL.

This event was held in Cardiff four years ago. The Swiss Captain on that occasion was heard to remark “When they said to go to Cardiff, I thought - this is a small village in England. It is in Wales and it is bigger than Zurich!”

Representing Wales are:

Mark Roderick (Road Runner), so known for his ability to whiz around in his wheelchair at 100KPH. Watch out for him in the foyer if you look like being dangerous opponents in the next match! Often to be found on OK Bridge being charming to Americans.

Mike Cleaton. (Spiderman), as he can weave many webs. As a buyer for Sainsbury’s he handles a budget for millions so he is the only team member who is coping with the Turkish Lira.

Dafydd Jones (Bugs Bunny), as he is capable of digging himself into a hole. Known also for his charming smile and his inability to buy a round. Dafydd has just taken his finals in Bristol.

Jake Dunn (Shaggy), you will have to work that one out. At present studying in Edinburgh where his passport remained when he came to London for the flight. Replaces his older brother Adam in the squad. Adam works at the English Bridge Union as a spy for Wales.

Catherine Evans (Gummy Bear), as she doesn’t stop smiling. She is the youngest competitor in the Junior event, weighing in at just fourteen years. Her sister is ten years old and has represented Wales in the Under 20’s team. Her ambition is to reach adulthood.

David Davies (Obelix) - but with the brains too! Studying Librarianship at Aberystwyth means he is given the job of running the book.

NPC Paul Cunningham was heard to liken his team to a box of eggs - smooth, well rounded, but he could only get the best out of them when they were smashed.

Paul is assisted in his duties by Coach Jon ‘Fluff’ Seavers - until last year Fluff was a member of the Welsh Juniors himself. He is so confident that the team will win a medal that he has compulsory singing practice every morning for the National Anthem.

They are all delighted to be in Turkey and taking part in these magnificent Championships.

As I understand it, you have been very successful in France in developing a schools programme. Can you tell us about this and how it was achieved?

In fact I have worked on that with Jean Claude Beineix while he was President of the FFB. We got the support of the Minister of Education and Schools. We got sponsors: BP and Nesquik to cover the expenses of the seminar to train first the teachers, and finally we got the support of the parents and the media.

But there is still a lot to do in that field.

In this year’s Generali Masters, a Junior event was included. Are there any plans to include a Senior event in the future?

Not at all, for a simple reason: From the beginning we have invited the most famous seniors and everybody has still in mind the standing ovation given to Giorgio Belladona, or the bronze medals won by Jean Marc Roudinesco and Bobby Wolff.

As part of our policy towards the Olympics, it was clear that we had to have a Junior event.

Bridge on Television. Do you see any way in which it can be done?

I have shown in the past how to do it. After Geneva, and the Generali, we had edited highlights, which attracted several million viewers. The problem is that it is expensive to make such programmes, and from now on we may have free TV on the Internet with, in a few months time, very good image quality and a very simple method of access onto your TV screen.

We have come a long way in the last ten years, especially in the use of technology. What further developments do you envisage?

For more than twenty years now I have spent a lot of time in the use of technology, especially in communication, and our bridge show presentations on VuGraph. I am now sure that the Internet revolution will be of great benefit for bridge, because bridge is also the best example of the use of the Internet. Furthermore it opens the field for teaching and learning.

Is there anything you would like to add, or request that be done to promote bridge in any way? This is very much an open question!

Of course you know that development is my passion. As Club President I managed to increase the club members, in three years, from 90 to 220.

As District President, also in three years, from 400 to 1200.

As French Bridge Federation President, in five years from 18 000 to 44 000.

As European Bridge League President: in 1987 we numbered 240,000, and 370,000 when I left in 1995.

I am convinced that the present stagnant figures are unacceptable, and I want to promote with the National Federations a development program towards Youth, but especially without neglecting the adults, and the older, which are also of primary importance.

I have in mind also a solidarity program to start in the year 2002, which will be presented and discussed in Maastricht. But many Federations have already benefited from our action with the IOC and our advice in promoting our sport.

Thank you José, it was a pleasure to talk to you.

return to top of page			to the list of Bulletins
	1 - 2 - 3 - 4