WORLDDIRECTORY BRIDGE FEDERATION 2020 WORLD BRIDGE FEDERATION DIRECTORY 2020 1999-2019 20 years of the World Bridge Federation as an International Federation recognised by the International Olympic Committee The purpose of the World Bridge Federation shall be: to promote, foster, promulgate and develop and govern the sport of Bridge internationally to support and encourage the development of youth bridge, in particular by encouraging and assisting NBOs in promoting bridge in schools, universities and other educational and youth organisations to be in the Olympic Movement, remaining affiliated with the International Olympic Committee (“IOC”) as a recognized International Federation (“IF”) in conformity with the requirements of the Olympic Charter and to contribute to the achievement of the goals set out in the Olympic Charter, in particular by way of spreading Olympism and Olympic education to federate national bridge organisations in all countries to devise methods and conduct competitions to award international or world championship titles to establish standard laws for its contests adopting recognised standards of fair-play and good ethics and supplementing these as may be required to support and encourage the promotion of positive sport ethics to dedicate its efforts to ensure that in bridge contests the spirit of fair play prevails to fight against unethical behaviour, manipulation of competitions and alterations of results in bridge to fight against doping in sport and to take measures the goal of which is to prevent endangering the health of bridge players The WBF endeavours to maintain friendly relations amongst its members and amongst Zonal Conferences. The WBF does not permit any political, religious, gender or racial discrimination or any violation of human rights amongst its members. THE WORLD BRIDGE FEDERATION 5 ADMINISTRATION 41 THE WBF ZONAL CONFERENCES 61 & AFFILIATED FEDERATIONS WBF CHAMPIONSHIPS 81 WBF RANKINGS 211 THE WORLD BRIDGE FEDERATION 6 The World Bridge Federation 11 The WBF Presidents 12 The WBF Committee of Honour 14 Statutes of the World Bridge Federation 27 By-Laws of the World Bridge Federation The World Bridge Federation The World Bridge Federation was formed on devoted to offering its member countries, 18th August 1958 in Oslo, Norway, by the National Bridge Organisations (NBOs) delegates from Europe, USA and South the best possible service. The stimulation America. In Orlando in September 2018 given by Ortiz-Patiño to building the the WBF celebrates its 60th anniversary. organizational and administrative structure, to developing the discipline and its image, to Baron Robert de Nexon, from France, an introducing new rules and a rigid code of inspiring figure in bridge, was elected as first ethics is still effective even today. When he President. Charles J. Solomon, from USA left the WBF in 1986 he was elected (1964-1968) succeeded him as President, President Emeritus by acclamation for his followed by Count Carl Bonde, from exceptional services to bridge. Sweden (1968-1970). With the election of Julius Rosenblum in 1970, the WBF started to assume the mantle of a real World Organisation. Rosenblum strongly believed that bridge needed to have a visible central organisation with a global reach rather than conducting its affairs on a local or continental basis. Jaime Ortiz-Patiño with the WBF Flag Denis Howard, from Australia, succeeded him to the Presidency from 1986 to 1990. Re-elected for a second term, Howard Julius Rosemblum opens the WBF Flag at the 1974 resigned in January 1991 following a crisis World Championship in Venice within the world of bridge. Ernesto d’Orsi, from Brazil, who had distinguished himself When in 1976 Rosenblum decided to retire as a leading bridge administrator succeeded for health reasons, Jaime Ortiz-Patiño from him in 1991 and 1992 and successfully Switzerland, was elected President. Under steered the WBF through this difficult and his guidance the WBF started its new delicate situation. In August 1992 he left modern era and in August 1977 was the chair to Robert S. Wolff, from the USA, incorporated under the Laws of the State of one of the most successful players in the New York as a “not for profit” organization. history of bridge, who successfully The Federation cast off the mantle of a completed the task started by d’Orsi and paternalistic organization and was re- until August 1994, when José Damiani, structured as an International Federation from France, was elected President. ~ 6 ~ José Damiani completely changed the way Nation Educational, Scientific and Cultural forward, both for the WBF and Bridge itself. Organisation) and is Code Signatory Under his leadership, following its initial of WADA (World Anti-Doping Agency). recognition as an International Organisation in 1995 pursuant to Article 29 of the José Damiani left the chair in November Olympic Charter, the WBF was recognised 2010 after 16 years of Presidency, having by the International Olympic Committee achieved tremendous success in the as an International Sports Federation in development of bridge. He introduced new 1999. In October 2000 in Monaco, the concepts of communication and information, World Bridge Federation was admitted as a which attracted media, sponsors and member of the GAISF (General supporters; improving technological systems Association of Internationals Sports to manage and run the Championships and Federations – Olympic and non-Olympic) other competitions, creating new events in at the General Assembly of this Association. which players of all categories could GAISF later became SportAccord but has participate, and developing youth bridge, now reverted to it’s origins as GAISF. constantly supporting and improving the teaching of bridge and creating the opportunity for school children to be taught bridge from an early age. When he left, he was elected WBF Chairman Emeritus by acclamation for his extraordinary services to bridge and subsequently, following the death of Ortiz-Patiño in 2013, elected President Emeritus. Gianarrigo Rona, from Italy, former First Vice-President and EBL President (1999- 2010) was elected WBF President in São Paulo September 2009 and took the chair in Philadelphia in November 2010. In Nusa Madrid September 2007, José Damiani awarded President Samaranch with a WBF Honour Plaque Dua, Bali, November 2013, Rona was re-elected unopposed and again in Lyon, The WBF also became a member of ARISF (Association of Recognised International Sport Federations) and in October 2002 moved its headquarters to Lausanne (Switzerland), the Olympic City. The WBF is one of the founder members of IMSA (International Mind Sports Association) which was formed on 19 April 2005. The WBF is recognised by FISU (International University Sport Federation), which organises the World University Bridge Championship Gianarrigo Rona with Marius Vizer, GAISF President, Raffaele Chiulli, ARISF President, Sheick Al Sabah, every two years and UNESCO (United OCA President and the Sport Legend Sir Sebastian Coe ~ 7 ~ August 2017 for a third four-year term which the WBF Sentencing Guidelines, the will thus run until 2022. HLPC Express Line were adopted as well as the Tournament Directors Official Under the Rona Presidency, the WBF Register and Rules & Regulations. Headquarters was settled at la Maison du Afterwards the Sport Integrity Declaration Sport International in Lausanne, and the IOC Code of Prevention were Switzerland, employing personnel and introduced. finalising the requirements for incorporation under Swiss Law. The structure and the legal The Constitution and the By-Laws were status of the WBF were clearly defined. updated in conformity with the Olympic Since 30th January 2014 the World Bridge Charter and the IOC Principles, respecting Federation, founded on August 18, 1958 in the fundamental principles of democracy, Oslo, is recognised as a non-profit making transparency and separation of powers. organisation of a strictly civil nature, Disciplinary Organs consisting of a incorporated under Swiss Laws and Disciplinary Panel, an Antidoping Hearing registered in the Commercial Register in Panel and the WBF Tribunal were instituted accordance with art. 60 ff. of the Swiss Civil with autonomous competence and jurisdiction Code. on juridical and disciplinary matters. The Disciplinary Code, the Eligibility The format of the World Bridge Games was Code, the Code of Ethics, the Dress modified with the introduction of the Code, the Players Committment Form, National Pairs Championship, following the Reviewer, substituting the Appeal the National Teams Championship, as Committee, the Antibetting Regulations, well as the format of the World Bridge Veldhoven 2011. The five WBF Presidents, Bobby Wolff, Jaime Ortiz-Patiño, Gianarrigo Rona, Ernesto d’Orsi, José Damiani ~ 8 ~ Series with Mixed, Open, Women and In Orlando on 27th September 2018 the Seniors events both for teams and in Congress approved new WBF Statutes and addition World National Teams endorsed the new WBF By-Laws, provided Championship was expanded with the by the Executive Council, not only in introduction of the National Mixed Teams conformity with the Olympic Charter and the and an increase in the number of the IOC Principles, but also respecting the qualified teams. In the Youth Championship fundamental principles of democracy, new categories of Girls (up to 25) and Kids transparency and separation of the powers. (up to 15) were added to the already These provide a Charter that will provide the existing Juniors (up to 25)