International Mind Sports 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 World Mind Sports Games, held in the Olympic city of Beijing, from 3 to 18 October 2008. Just after the Olympic Games, the Chinese capital will gather for the first time the world’s best players from five mind sports – bridge, chess, go, draughts and xiangqi – 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 Sport, 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 mind sport 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 Paralympic Games, 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 World Bridge Federation (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 Board 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.