President's Welcome Message

Dear Friends,

Welcome to Menton to participate and enjoy all together the 1st European Open Bridge Championship. A special welcome to all of you who came from overseas and who, by your presence, gratify all in European bridge who are extremely happy and proud to have you here.

Thanks to your significant adhesion, our hope to organise a good bridge event has been transformed into a certainty to be able to organise a great event, and now our hope is to be able to satisfy all your more than legitimate expectations.

Together with my colleagues from the European Bridge League I hope to realise the task we gave ourselves, and I am confident in being able to count on both the dedication and professionalism of our staff, and on the cooperation of all of you. I often repeat that bridge is more than fair-play, because it is a way of thinking and not just a way of being, and I am sure that this great event will increase my conviction.

The numbers of entries, over 2000 players representing 41 European and 13 non-European countries, have confirmed the players’ approval of the idea of this Championship. Now I hope to achieve the approval of the realisation of this idea.

I am sure that the town of Menton and the Côte d’Azur will live up to their reputation for offering a great welcome and I take the occasion to thank the Mayor of Menton, Mr Jean-Claude Guibal, the French Federation led by Mr Maurice Panis, and all our Sponsor-friends who have allowed us to manage to organise and run this Championship.

Now let’s enjoy ourselves all together in friendship and serenity, without any differences or discrimination, in the pure spirit of bridge. Under these auspices I declare the 1st European Open Bridge Championship officially open.

All the best and “un abbraccio”.

Gianarrigo Rona
EBL President