International Mind Association Message from

Jacques Rogge President - International Olympic Committee

On behalf of the Olympic Movement, I would like to convey my best greetings to the participants of the 1st , held in the Olympic city of , from 3 to 18 October 2008.

Just after the , the Chinese capital will gather for the first time the world’s best players from five mind sports – bridge, , go, draughts and – which are very popular in the People’s Republic of China.

I am convinced that this first edition organised by the International Mind Sports Association (IMSA) will contribute to the development of mind sports throughout the world.

I wish every success to the organisers of the 1st World Mind Sports Games. Good luck to all the participants!

2 Message from

Hein Verbruggen President -General Association of International Sports Federations

Dear Friends of ,

On behalf of the General Association of International Sports Federations, it is with great pleasure that I convey my very best wishes for the success of the inaugural event of the World Mind Sports Games in Beijing.

GAISF is proud and honoured to grant its patronage to the World Mind Sports Games, which gathers the 4 international federation members of GAISF: Bridge, Chess, Draughts and Go. Xiangqi (Chinese Chess) will also be included in this year’s programme.

We believe that it is very important for people to be able to take part in events such as this, which contribute to education, concentration and the development of mental techniques, as well as communication, solidarity and a team spirit.

I am also pleased that this first edition of the World Mind Sports Games is taking place in China, a country that is developing in leaps and bounds, and I am convinced that the co-operation between GAISF, the local organisers and the International Mind Sports Association will ensure that the Games are a resounding success.

With my warmest greetings,

Sincerely Yours.

3 Message from

Mr. Liu Peng Minister of the China General Administration of Sport President – Chinese Olympic Committee

In October, 2008, the 1st World Mind Sports Games will be held in Beijing. This will be another major international sport event following the Beijing Olympics and the Paralympics, and draw great attention of mind sport lovers of all countries. On behalf of the China General Administration of Sport and the Chinese Olympic Committee, I would like to extend a warm welcome to all the participating athletes and coaches.

Compared with physical sport, mind sports are sports featuring mental activities. Throughout a long history, mind sport made, in a unique way, a great contribution to the development of sports and human civilization as a whole. The 1st World Mind Sports Games is the first multi-sports event that includes five mind sports, namely, bridge, chess, go, draughts and xiangqi. It is a creative gathering, a supplement and extension of the connotation of sports, and is certain to enrich the wisdom of the whole human race. I believe, with the success of the 1st World Mind Sport Games, mind sports, as an important component of physical culture and sports, will be further understood and valued by the public, and the connotation of sports further enriched.

We will work with enthusiasm and all seriousness for preparations for the 1st WMSG, and spare no effort to deliver high standard in this international sport event. I am convinced that athletes from all the countries and regions will be able to take part in the games in the spirit of “friendship, exchange, and fair competition”, and will enjoy the pleasure of Mind Sports to their hearts’ content. I wish all the participating athletes a great success in competition!

4 Message from

Mr. Guo Jinlong Mayor of Beijing

In this beautiful and pleasant October time, while rejoicing over the success of Beijing Olympic Games and , we are happy to see the staging if the 1st World Mind Sports Games. On behalf of Beijing Municipal Government, the people of Beijing, and the Organizing Committee for the 1st World Mind Sports Games, I would like to express my thanks to IMSA, the General Administration of Sport of China and related sport organizations for their excellent work. My gratitude also goes to the enterprises and media which have supported this event. Meanwhile, I would like to extend my warm welcome to athletes, coaches, officials and friends from all other the world.

Mind sports have a long history and are widely enjoyed. Along with the development of human civilization, mind sports have become and will be more and more popular. The World Mind Sports Games, with the competitions of bridge, Chess, Go, Draughts and Xiangqi, will help enhance the popularity of these sports and promote the exchange of traditional cultures and people’s wisdom.

Thirty years have passed since China started reform and opening-up. Through the hosting of Olympic Games, Beijing, a well-known ancient oriental city and China’s political and cultural centre, is growing even more charming and energetic. With the Olympic legacy, we will make every effort to ensure good service and sound organization. I hope that athletes and friends, while enjoying the games with passion and pleasure, will be impressed by people’s enthusiasm and friendship in Beijing.

I wish the 1st World Mind Sports Game a complete success.

5 Message from

José Damiani President - International Mind Sports Association President - WBF

On 19th April 2005 the International Mind Sports Federation was born, bringing together four international federations: the (WBF), the International Chess Federation (FIDE), the International Draughts Federation and the International Go Federation (IGF).

The objective was clear: to organise the World Mind Sports Games. The General Association of International Sports Federations (GAISF), to which these four federations belong, had agreed to give its patronage to this event, for which we thank its President, Hein Verbruggen, who also agreed to accept Xiangqi (Chinese Chess) into the competition on this occasion.

We are also very honoured by the support of the President of the International Olympic Committee, Jacques Rogge, who will no doubt be very interested in the high quality of the Games in order to determine its future within the IOC which already counts Bridge and Chess among its ranks as Recognized International Federations.

We are all very conscious of the importance of the success of this first edition of the World Mind Sports Games which we have made every effort to achieve.

It is why we wish to express our particular gratitude to the and Cards Administrative Centre of the General Administration of Sports in China and, in particular, to Minister Liu Peng, as well as to the Chinese authorities, to the Municipality of Beijing and to the members of the Committee of Honour.

It is thanks to this cooperation between the Chinese Organizing Committee and IMSA that this event has been realized. We are also very grateful for the support of the North Star Group, Air China, Sodium Group and the other partners who are assisting with this exciting venture.

I hope with all my heart that this fortnight will show, with wisdom and harmony, that our mind sports are truly the Smart Games for Smart People.

6 Message from

Valery Zakoptelov Vice President - International Mind Sports Association

International Mind Sports Association was established only a few years ago. Nevertheless, we have reached heights on our way to increasing the popularity of the mind sports. Our meeting in Beijing is the most convincing proof of the actual need for the Mind Sports in the world.

Mind sports are easy to understand and accessible. There are no age limits or special physical requirements for playing chess, bridge, draughts or go. Mind sports help the harmony in the development of a human kind and serves for the creation of a peaceful environment, caring to conserve the dignity of man. Mutual understanding, friendship, solidarity and fair- play are the basic principles of each mind sport.

1st World Mind Sports Games organized in the Olympic city of Beijing is the first step towards the Olympic status. Hundred millions of mind sports fans dream of seeing their adored sports as a part of the programme of the Games.

I believe that times when the International Olympic Committee will make Mind Sports official Olympic sports, and altogether we will participate in Olympic Mind Sports Games, are not far off.

I hope I made you proud for what we are involved in and confident about forthcoming glorious Olympic future of Mind.

7 Message from

Mr. Kirsan Ilyumzhinov President - Fédération Internationale Des Échecs Head of the Kalmyk Republic

Dear participants and guests of the 1st World Mind Sport Games! Dear ladies and gentlemen!

On behalf of the leadership of the World Chess Federation I would like to express our sincere greetings to the participants and guests of this great event.

The 1st World Mind Sport Games is a multi-events Games and for the first time in human history five mind sports – chess, go, draughts, bridge and Xiangqi are integrated within one Games. All the above-mentioned events have the widest popularity and a large influence in the world.

The Games will be under the aegis of GAISF (General Association of International Sports Federations) and organised by the International Mind Sports Association of which FIDE is a founding member.

For the coming couple of weeks Beijing will become a mind sport capital of the world for the millions of people from all countries. These five sports are well spread all over the world, regardless of age, gender, religious belief or race.

Unprecedented generous support by the Chinese Organising Committee and Chinese Ministry of Sports has played a key role in bringing this event to its realization, for which I am deeply grateful. It is also a great pleasure to me to express my cordial gratitude to the sponsors, journalists, volunteers and everyone else who has contributed to the organisation and preparation of the 1st World Mind Sport Games!

Wishing all players and guests an enjoyable stay in Beijing, I hope all parti- cipants will produce tremendous games and will contribute a great deal in making these 1st World Mind Sport Games an unforgettable event!

Gens Una Sumus! We are one family!

8 Message from

Mr. Harry Otten Executive Vice President - Fédération Mondiale du Jeu de Dames

It is with great gratitude to our Chinese hosts and to the International Mind Sports Association, IMSA, that we gather in Beijing for unprecedented World Mind Sport Games. We have just seen the greatness of the 2008 Olympics and it convinces us of equally well organized Mind Sport Games.

The FMJD, the World Draughts Federation, is very proud that players from more continents and countries than even before will participate in the draughts tournaments.

Mind sports such as Chess, Draughts, Bridge, Go and Xiangqi play an impor- tant role in teaching children to plan ahead and to taking quick and good decisions when needed. I hope that the thousands of best players of the world in the various disciplines who play here will serve as a role model for the youth of all nations.

For many organizers the WMSG meant many hours of work every day during the past year. We owe a lot to these people who are almost always volunteers for the sole interest of the game they represent.

As a European I can state that historic ties between Europe and China date back many centuries. Let these games contribute to a further intensification of good relations between all continents in a world of peace for us and the generations to come.

9 Message from

Mr. Hiromu Okabe President - International Go Federation

I am very grateful and also feel it a great honor that the 1st World Mind Sports Games, the staging of which has been the long-cherished dream of the International Mind Sports Association, are being held in China, which is the birthplace of go and where the game has enjoyed a long history since time immemorial, in the city of Beijing, where the excitement of the Olympic Games still lingers.

The IGF has been the beneficiary of great understanding and cooperation from all concerned parties in the realization of this memorable event, and the largest number of competitors in history in such an event have gathered here in Beijing. A large number of professionals from various countries are also competing, and we anticipate a high-level competition. We strongly believe that it will also be an event rich in content.

The holding of the 1st World Mind Sports Games is a major step that will retain a place in history as an event making a valuable contribution to the development of the mind sports and to mutual understanding for international peace.

In closing, I would like to express my heartfelt gratitude to all the organizers in the host country China and to all the other organizers around the world for the tremendous efforts that have made this marvellous event possible.

10 Message from

Mr. Timothy Fok President - Xiangqi Member of the International Olympic Committee

The People’s Republic of China, whose capital city was the stage of the 29th Olympics, is proud to field a team to the first ever World Mind Sports Games. The depth of Chinese athletic talent is beyond dispute after its sportsmen and women’s inspiring performances in the Olympiad. What is to be proven is the comparable cerebral prowess of the Chinese in a wide gamut of games ranging from bridge to chess, both the occidental and the oriental varieties.

To have the best brains from an ancient civilization participate in the Mind Games whose genesis is also steeped in history is apt and sure to appeal to the aficionados and amateurs alike. The touted ingenuity of the Chinese is to be pitted against that of the others. Only in such meets at the highest caliber can the players of whichever pursuit improve and, at the same time, get to meet and learn from their peers as well as foster international trust and goodwill.

There is the Chinese proverb that in the seven seas all men are brothers, all women are sisters. This is the very spirit to be incarnated by the Chinese delegation and the one to be shared with all those who are en route to Beijing, the site of the 29th Olympiads, for the inaugural World Mind Sports Games.

11 Committee

WMSG Committe of Honour

Jacques Rogge President of the International Olympic Committee

Hein Verbruggen Coordination Commission Chairman for the Olympic Games Beijing 2008 and GAISF President (General Association of International Sports Federations)

Li Lanqing Former member of Politburo's Standing Committee, Vice Premier of the State Council

Ding Guangen Member of the Politburo of the CPC Central Committee

Zeng Peiyan Former Member of the Politburo and Vice Premier of the State Council

Chen Zhili Vice Chairperson of the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress

Xiang Huaicheng Former Minister of Ministry of Finance

Wang Qishan Member of the Politburo and Vice Premier of the State Council

Guo Jinlong Mayor of Beijing

Liu Peng Minister of the China General Administration of Sport of China

12 Organization

IMSA Executive Council and Organizing Committee

Mr. José Damiani Mr. Georgios Makropoulos Mr. Patrick Choy Mr. Valery Zakoptelov President Deputy President Vice President Marketing Vice President

Mr. David Jarrett Mr. Erik Puyt Mr. Jean-Claude Schupp Treasurer General Secretary Honorary Secretary

Chen Zelan Liaison Officer

Operation Co-ordinator

Ton Kooijman

Daily Bulletin Editor

Jos Jacobs

13 Organization

Name List of the Organizing Committee for the 1st WMSG

PRESIDENTS Zhang Haifeng Yu Luming Director General of the Press and Deputy Director General of the Beijing Liu Peng Publicity Department of the General Municipal Bureau of Health Minister of the General Administration Administration of Sport of China of Sport of China Li Jizhong Guo Jianjun Deputy Director General of the Beijing Guo Jinlong Traffic Management Bureau Mayor of Beijing Deputy Director of the competition and training department of the General Zhang Chunxiu Administration of Sport of China Deputy Chief of Chaoyang District, EXECUTIVE PRESIDENTS Beijing Sun Daguang Hu Jiayan Director General of China International Liu Huanbo Vice-Minister of the General Sports Exchange Center Vice General Manager of Beijing North Administration of Sports of China Star Stock Co., Ltd Goa Xiaojun Cai Fuchao Wen Zijian Deputy Mayor of Beijing Deputy Director General of the General Chairman of the Board, China Sports Office of the General Administration of Media (Beijing) Co. Ltd Sport of China EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT Zhang Chi SECRETARY GENERAL Xiao Min Deputy Director General of the Economy Assistant Minister of the General Department of the General Administration of Sport of China Fan Guangsheng Administration of Sport of China Deputy Director General of the Board Card Games Administrative Center of the General Administration of Sport of China VICE PRESIDENTS Fan Guangsheng Deputy Director of the Board and Card Liu Siming Games Administrative Center of the Director General of the Board and Card General Administration of Sport of China DEPUTY SECRETARY GENERALS Games Administrative Center of the General Administration of Sport of China Hua Yigang Chen Zelan Deputy Director of the Board and Card Deputy Director General of the Board Chu Bo and Card Games Administrative Center Games Administrative Center of the Party Secretary of the Board and Card of the General Administration of Sport General Administration of Sport of Games Administrative Center of the of China General Administration of Sport of China China, President of China Qiyuan Dou Changming Sun Kanglin Chen Zelan Director of the Beijing Board and Card Deputy Secretary General of the Beijing Deputy Director General of the Board Games Administrative Center Municipal Government, Director General of the Beijing Municipal Bureau of Sport and Card Games Administrative Center of the General Administration of Sport Tan Juqing Chen Lianyuan of China Director of the Chaoyang Sports Bureau Chief of Chaoyang District, Beijing Yuan Zhenzhou Sun Zhun Deputy Director of the Beijing Municipal Deputy Director of the Investment and MEMBERS Property Department of Beiijing North Bureau of Sport Star Group Co, Ltd Song Luzeng Yu Hongyuan Director General of the External Affairs Zhang Wang Department of the General Deputy Director General of the Beijing President of China Sports Media (Beijing) Administration of Sport of China Municipal Public Security Bureau Co., Ltd

14 Administrative DEPUTY DIRECTOR ADVISOR Department Tang Jun Song Zhaorong Leisure Sports Administrative Center Director of Security Department of of the General Administration DIRECTOR General Office of the General of Sport of China Administration of Sport of China Wang Xiaojuan Former Director of the General Office Wu Li Competition Department of the Board and Card Games Director of Network department of the Administrative Center of the General Board and Card Games Administrative Administration of Sport of China Center of the General Administration of DIRECTOR Sport of China Guo Yujun Wang Xiaobo Deputy Director of Major event DEPUTY DIRECTORS of the Board and Card Games Director of Security Department of North Administrative Center of the General Star Stock Co., Ltd Administration of Sport of China Zhu Yuehan The General Development Department of the Board and Card Games ADVISOR DEPUTY DIRECTOR Administrative Center of the General Administration of Sport of China Zhou Ying Hu Haiyuan Deputy Director of Xiangqi Department Zhang Yang Director of Department of Security of the Board and Card Games for Major events of Beijing Public Administrative Center of the General Deputy Director of the office of Beijing Security Bureau Administration of Sport of China Municipal Bureau of Sport Tian Huashan Chen Lingkai Go Department of the Board and Card Li Yi Deputy Party Secretary of Beijing Deputy Director of Beijing Municipal Games Administrative Center of the Municipal Bureau of Sport General Administration of Sport of China Board and Card Games Administrative Center Tan Yanwu External Affairs Deputy Director of the Board and Card Games Administrative Center of the ADVISOR Department General Administration of Sport of China Yu Tao Ly Tiehang DIRECTOR Director of Leisure Sport Administrative Director General of the Training Center Center of Chaoyang Sport Bureau of the General Administration Li Xin of Sport of China Deputy Director of China International Sport Exchange Center Publicity Department Chun Deputy Director of the Financial Auditing DIRECTOR Center of the General Administration EXECUTIVE DEPUTY of Sport of China DIRECTOR GENERAL Wang Cheng Director of General Affairs Division of Xue Wanhe Press and Publicity Department of the Che Xiangdong Administration of Sport of China Director of Economy Department of the Former Director of China International General Administration of Sport of China Sport Exchange Center DEPUTY DIRECTORS Yang Yi China Sports Publication Corporation DEPUTY DIRECTOR Sha Li of the General Administration Board and Card Games Administrative of Sports of China Center of the General Administration Zhang Quanli of Sport of China Chief of Liaison & Reception Division of China International Xia Yinfa Transport and Security Sport Exchange Center Director of Publicity Department of Department Beijing Municipal Bureau of Sport Fan Jiang Director Training Department DIRECTOR of China International Market Department Sport Exchange Center Liu Siming DIRECTOR Director General of the Board and Card Liu Wenhui Games Administrative Center Deputy Director of Liaison & Reception Zhang Wang of the General Administration of Sport of China International President of China Sport Media Co. Ltd of China (concurrent) Sport Exchange Center (concurrent)

15 DEPUTY DIRECTOR Peng Jun DEPUTY DIRECTOR Sales Director of Wuzhou hotel of BICC Zhou Min He Jin Mou Ben Deputy Director of Bridge Department China Sports Media Co., Ltd of the Board and Card Games Deputy Director of the Competition Center Administrative Center of the General of Beijing Municipal Bureau of Sport Administration of Sport of China Zhao Shilong Network Technology Wang Jiao Deputy Director of Chaoyang Branch China Sport Media Co., Ltd Bureau of Beijing Public Security Bureau Department

Bo Hai Zhang Cheng COMPETITION COMMITTEES China Sport Media Co., Ltd Head of Chaoyang Traffic Corps Director of Bridge Zhang Yonghong Competition Committee Head of Chaoyang Urban Wang Xiaofeng Games Service Administration Corps Department Zhang Xia Director of Chess Head of the Neighborhood office Competition Committee DIRECTOR of the Asian Village Games Ye Jiangchuan

Sun Zhun Luo Xiao Director of Go Deputy Director of Chaoyang Deputy Director of Investment and Competition Committee Property Department of Beijing North Health Bureau Star Stock Co., Ltd Zhang Wendong

Director of Draughts DEPUTY DIRECTORS Major Events Department Competition Committee Yang Caiyi Boa Shengli DIRECTOR Vice President of the Apartments Director of Xiangqi Administration of Beijing North Star Wang Xiaoying Competition Committee Stock Co., Ltd China Sports Media Co., Ltd Liu Xiaofang

16