Mister President of the WBF, Authorities, NBO Presidents, dear friends,

Now is a time for celebration, the stage is for the winners and I do not wish to prolong the wait before the most exciting part of the whole event when all together we can award the winners with their prizes, celebrate with them, enjoy together, say goodbye to friends and make plans for meeting up at the next championship. Allow me only to say a few words of thanks, goodbye and especially "Arrivederci" to you and your companions, to our friends the sponsors who enabled this event to take place, and to the staff. Now this championship is at an end and I hope that all of you have been at ease here and approve of our choice of Sorrento: this marvellous corner of the world which seems to have been specially created, with its beauty, its atmosphere and culture to let us make peace with our world where true human values seem to be increasingly forgotten in the continual oppressive and giddy race towards some goal we do not even know. It seems that all we do is run. I hope that your benevolence has enabled you to appreciate all our efforts to organise a championship equal to our usual level and also to forgive any mistakes and mishaps which inevitably occur during such a big event despite all the measures we take to try to prevent them. Championships are like a large mosaic, which to be put together and especially to fulfil its purpose, requires that all its pieces are placed perfectly and together produce one harmonious chromatic effect.

Together we have experienced six magnificent days of sport, hobby and culture and I am proud to be able to state that once again, thanks to you, the players who are the true protagonists of this fantastic event, we have shown that bridge is a true sport, not simply a would-be one, and that we are worthy of the IOC recognition obtained - a true sport where all the genuine aspects of sport are demonstrated: competition, stamina, effort, but also the socialisation, aggregation, fair play, ethics.

Organising European Championships increasingly entails significant finances and if, as I believe, we have managed once again to fulfil our objectives, this is due to the help and support from the Authorities of Campania Region and Naples Province, the Organising Committee and our friends the sponsors whom, here all together, I wish to thank. All together without distinction because all of them have given us a great and fundamental contribution. Without them it would have been impossible for us. I would also like to invite up here onto the podium Councillors Antonio Valainte of the Campania region and Alfonso Ascione of Naples Province; the President of the Italian Olympic Committee in the Campania Region, Giovanni Ugatti the President Vicarious of the Italian Bridge Federation, Filippo Palma, and the on-site organisers Roberto Pennisi and Virginia Fiorani, to whom I would like to present a small token of our gratitude.

Special thanks must go to the staff, extraordinary for their self-denial and professionalism, led to perfection by Ton Kooijman and Ghigo Ferrari the Tournament Directors led by Max Bavin and Antonio Riccardi; the Daily Bulletin directed by Jean-Paul Meyer and Mark Horton; the Press Room of Elly Ducheyne; Internet with George Georgopoulos and Romano Grazioli; the Ranking and Results Operators co-ordinated by Gianni Baldi and Gianni Bertotto; the Main Office of Fulvio Colizzi; the Hospitality Desk of Silvia Valentini; the Appeal Committee chaired by Jens Auken and Steen Moeller; the Duplication Team headed by Annie Chekroun; the members of the Organising Committee, Franceso Giordano and Annibale Bruno; the EBL Secretariat, Christina MacEachen, Andrea Pagani and Federica Zorzoli. And then the Director of all this, our great and irreplaceable Jean-Claude Beineix and the lady who has been the exceptional MC at all our events and who again this evening has not belied her reputation, Anna Maria Torlontano. Thanks to all of you - I am proud to work with you. Finally let me thank the President of us all, José Damiani, who by his presence and participation has not only honoured this event, but has also shown how European Bridge is still dear to him, he who has been one of its greatest promoters. Thank you José.

I am proud of all of you who by your participation and enthusiasm reward our work and give us an ever-increasing stimulus to do our very best.

The next big event in our calendar is Tenerife in June and we have the pleasure to have with us today a delegation of the Canarian Authorities and Organising Committee chaired by Juan José Alayón Beltrán and Aureliano Yanes Herreros. I am sure that also in Tenerife all these feelings and experiences will be felt again in an equally splendid environment in another marvellous corner of our Europe.

Thank you for your attention and "un grande abbraccio" to you all!