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Mr. Damiani, President of the World Bridge Federation, introduced
members at the head table, including Mr. Marc Hodler,Vice-President
of the International Olympic Committee, Mr. Jaime Ortiz-Patino,
President Emeritus of the WBF, and members of the WBF Executive
Council. Mr. Damiani reported on some of the problems involved
in relocating the championships from Bali to Paris. He then introduced
the Video "Bridge is a True Sport", created for the presentation
to the European Olympic Committee.The meeting was then thrown
open to the Press for questions.
Jan van Cleeff (Dutch Press):
Three questions for Mr. Damiani. Congratulations for successfully
creating the event in Paris at such short notice, but how is the
relationship between the WBF and the Indonesia Bridge Federation?
What news of the event in Salt Lake City? Any news on the matter
of drugs?
JD: When we switched from Bali to Paris
only one country did not come to Paris, Pakistan, and that was
for very understandable reasons. Indonesia could easily have taken
the attitude that if we would not come to their country why should
they travel to mine. But, to their great credit, they did not
and are here.We have maintained an excellent relationship with
them.Who knows what the next two years will bring, but it is our
current intention to have the events intended for Bali there in
two years time.
In Salt Lake City there will be 8 MenÕs teams,
8 WomenÕs teams, and 4 Junior teams.
We are continuing the drugs tests that have now
been performed in Bermuda, Maastricht and Rio.
Patrick Jourdain (London Daily Telegraph,
2 million readers), for Mr.Damiani: Did any player fail the drug
tests in Maastricht?
JD:We do not have to publish the results
of the tests, but I can tell you that no player tested in Maastricht
failed, and no player tested at the World Junior Championships
in Rio failed.
Patrick Jourdain for Mr. Hodler: Regarding
the attitude of the new President of the IOC, Jacques Rogge, towards
bridge and chess, has he made any public commitment?
Mr. Hodler:We have made good progress.When
I first proposed bridge as a sport Mr. Rogge opposed the motion.
Now he has publicly accepted bridge as a sport, and has supported
the arrangements we have made for Salt Lake City.The bridge event
there will be at the same time as the IOC General Assembly meets,
and I expect Mr. Rogge to see for himself that bridge is worthy
to be included in the Olympic Games.We still face prejudice that
card games are a matter of luck of the deal rather than true tests
of skill, as is obvious with chess.
Patrick Jourdain for Mr. Rona, President
of the Eurpean Bridge League: Regarding the matter of the Spanish
Bridge Federation not paying the money it owed for the European
Championships in Tenerife, how much money is still owed and does
the Federation still face suspension?
Mr. Rona: At a meeting with the Federation
in August in Madrid, in the presence of a representative of the
Spanish Government's Ministry of Sport and Culture, the matter
was resolved. The Spanish BF has already paid more than half the
amount owing, and has signed a contract to pay the balance due
within the next two years.The EBL has therefore revoked the threat
of suspension.
Jean-Paul Meyer (Paris Express): How many
people were needed to arrange the Championships here in Paris
at such short notice?
JD:We have had very little sleep over
the last three weeks, but the Championships started on time last
Monday morning. I am pleased with the rates we negotiated at the
Hotel Concorde La Fayette where we will be playing next week.As
to the many staff who have worked hard to create the Championships,
you will find their names in the Championship Brochure.
Maureen Dennison (Secretary, IBPA and
reporter, various bridge magazines) How will the teams be chosen
for Salt Lake City?
JD:We are making a decision at the end
of these Championships, and have in mind how it will be done.
Mark Horton (Bridge Magazine, and the
Daily News here, 20 million readers) What about Turin in 2006.
If bridge gets in, will it be open to every Federation, and if
not will there be a Zonal qualification?
Mr. Hodler: All sports are restricted
in the numbers permitted at the Games, whether Summer or Winter,
and bridge will be no exception.
JD: It would be impossible to hold an
event the size of our Olympiad at an Olympic Games.We expect a
severe restriction in numbers.We are likely to use an existing
World Bridge Championship as the qualifiyng event to have an invitation
to the Olympic Games.We are looking into this question at the
moment.
from the World Championship
Paris France Daily Bulletin, Co-ordinator: Jean Paul Meyer - Editor:
Mark Horton - Assistant Editors: Brent Manley & Brian Senior French
Editor: Guy Dupont - Layout Editor: Stelios Hatzidakis - Photographer:
Ron Tacchi
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