bridge a true sport wbf - b€¦ · world bridge federation cape town, south africa -3-5 may 2017...

WorldBridgeFederationCapeTown,SouthAfrica- 3-5May2017

BRIDGEA True Sport for all

WorldBridgeFederationCapeTown,SouthAfrica- 3-5May2017 2

TheWorldBridgeFederation

Bridgehas been played since the1850sandcompetitivebridgesince 1925.

TheWorldBridgeFederation - W.B.F.- was founded inAugust1958inOslobytherepresentatives oftheAmericanContract BridgeLeague,

European BridgeLeagueandAustralian BridgeCouncil,organizationsthemselves founded inthe1930s.

WBFis subdivided in8Zones andcounts 128affiliated NBOs with morethanone million registered members.


ThankstotheeffortsofBharatBhardwaj,JuliusButkov andPierreChavanaz,theAfricanBridgeFederation(ABF)wasfoundedafterthedecisionbytheWBFtoseparatethenationsoftheAfricancontinentfromZone4(BFAME).

FollowingameetingheldinLillein1998andasubsequentmeetingheldinCairoinFebruary1999,attendedbytheWBFPresidentJoséDamiani andVicePresidentMazhar Jafri,theAfricanBridgeFederationwasofficiallylaunchedinAbidjan,IvoryCoaston30thMay2001,underthePresidencyofBaratBhardwajfromKenya.TodaytheABFcountsthefollowing

affiliatedNationalBridgeOrganisations:Botswana,Cameroon,Egypt,Kenya,Madagascar,Morocco,Nigeria,Réunion,SouthAfrica,Tunisia,ZambiaandZimbabwe.

TheAfrican BridgeFederation


BOTSWANA CAMEROON EGYPT KENYA

MADAGASCAR MOROCCO NIGERIA REUNION

SOUTH AFRICA TUNISIA ZAMBIA ZIMBABWE

ABFNationalBridgeOrganisations


8

98

BRIDGEBRIDGESAGES


Physical activity isafundamental necessity for the humanbeing

Mental activity isan indispensable complement

Bridgeisan excellentgymnastic ofthe mindfor menand women ofall

ages,all racesand all religions

Itisasportfor 60million players inthe world

Bridgeisplayed in130countries onall continents

INTRODUCTION


BridgeisaTRUESPORT

Bridgecontributes to EDUCATION

Bridgecontributes to HEALTH

BridgeisaSOCIAL aswellasaCOMPETITIVEGAME

BridgehasNOBARRIERS

BridgeisSPORT,HOBBYANDCULTURE

BRIDGEBRIDGESAGES


• Bridgecomprises all theelements thatcharacterise asport:fair-play,discipline,rules,ethics,application,training,competition,performance.

• Bridgehas been defined “thesportofthemind”,but is not only asportforthebrain:itrequires particular concentration,fightingspirit,quick reflexes andstamina;qualities onlyachieved through physical fitness.

BRIDGEISASPORT


• Bridgemeans completeacceptance oftherulesand,above all,strict respect ofethics.

• Afirstinternational codeoflaws wasintroduced in1871.

BRIDGEISASPORT


• TheWBFreceived recognition,pursuant torule 29oftheCharter,fromtheIOCduring the109thSessioninSeoul,March1999.

• InOctober 1999inMontecarlotheWBFwas accepted as amember ofGAISF(GeneralAssociation ofInternationalSportsFederation)

BRIDGEISASPORT


“Bridge is a sport and, as such,your place is here like other sports”

Declared IOC President Juan Antonio Samaranch on 7th September1998 at the Opening of the 1st I.O.C. Grand Prix for Bridge at the

Olympic Museum on realising that he was watching a true competition.


There is always amomentinhistory when agamebecomes sport

Agamebecomes asportwhen it meets threeessential criteria:

1.Acodeofrules

2.Theprevailing ofskill overluck

3.Acompetitivespirit,i.e.Theplayers aim towin

BRIDGEISASPORT


Among thenumerous sports,which oneis closer tothemain characteristics ofthehumanrace,compared tothe

characteristics oftherest oftheanimalkingdom?

13


In a sport based on power a man will lose for sure if

compared to a gorilla or an elephant

14


Inasportbased onspeed amanwill yeldtoahorse oracheetah

15


Inasportbased onagility amanwouldbedefeated byanape

16


Inasportbased ongrace amanwill behumiliated byabird orafish

17


Yet there is asphere where amanfears nocomparison,andthat is theone concerning

intelligence

Inanintelligencechallenge amanknows hecanexceloverany other livingspecies intheworld

18


Therefore,asportmainly based onintelligence,enhancing thepeculiar gift ofhumanity,is asportmore“human”than the

others

19


• Unescoand numerous Ministries ofEducationrecognized the education value ofbridge

• MiniBridgeteaches very young people tomemorize,concentrate and reason

• Bridgereflects real lifesituations.Negativeevents mustbeaccepted withserenity anddiscipline.

Daan&Nick, years old,NationalMiniBridgeChampions TheNetherlands

BRIDGE&EDUCATION


• Bridgeisasportfor students• FISUorganizes WorldBridgeUniversityChampionships

BRIDGE&EDUCATION


• Practicing bridgeensures alonger lifeofconviviality• Practicing bridgeisan excellentprotection against illnessessuch asAlzheimerand Parkinson

• ThepicturesshowAnna(90)and Jean(81).She plays almostevery day inherretirement home.Heisstill afanatic clubplayer

BRIDGE&HEALTH


• Bridgeteaches spirit,dialogue,communication,aggregation,friendship and solidarity

• Bridgeisplayed onthe internetfrom NewYorkto Beijingwithpartneroropponents inRomeorLondon

• Bridgecan be played asacompetitive gameaswellasfor amere recreation

BRIDGEISSOCIAL&COMPETITIVE


Youngand old matchwellinbridge.

BRIDGEISSOCIAL&COMPETITIVE


•Nobarriers inbridge• Peoplewith physical disabilitiesand evenblindcan compete alltogether with othercompetitors

•Nodifferences and equalamount ofchances

PARTICIPATIONWITHOUTBARRIERS


At bridge events the latest video and computer technologypermits spectators to follow the play in the “BridgeRama”auditorium or theatre.

BRIDGEANDTECHNOLOGY


• All largeevents arenow transmitted viaInternet.• Andthere areapproximately 700bridgejournalists intheInternationalBridgePressAssociation who writenealy 3000bridgecolumns.

3086bridge

players atAjax

FootballStadium

BRIDGEANDCOMMUNICATION


• Bridgecan be played atany level,any age,anytimeanywhere

• InBridgethere areneither barriers nordiscrimination.

• Bridgeisnot only afairgame,butalso an ethicone.

• Bridgeisnot only awayofthinkingbutalso awayofbeing

• Bridgeishobby,sportand culture• “Bridgefor peace”isthe mottoofbridgeplayers all overthe world

• Bridgebridges ages and isasportfor alifetime

CONCLUSION


“Bridgeforpeace”istheWorldBridgeFederation’smotto:

“TodefeathatredweplaytheCardofPeace”.

Letusmakeitours,letusfeelthatitisours

and,unitedasone,strivingalltogether,letusbeproudofit.

bridge a true sport wbf - b€¦ · world bridge federation cape town, south africa -3-5 may 2017...

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