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33-487: Prior to 2005 both members of each pair had to be at least 55 years of age. In 2005, the World Bridge Federation (WBF) decided that the minimum age for a player to be recognized as Senior would be increasing one year per year, until it reached 60 years in 2010. The decision ensured that 55-year-olds who participated in a senior event in 2003 would never become ex-Seniors . World meets commonly run for 15 days on

66-482: A 'non-profit' organization. Harold Stirling Vanderbilt was made the first honorary member of the WBF for his work developing the game. The current president is Jan Kamras of Sweden. WBF membership now comprises 123 National Contract Bridge Organizations (NBOs) with about 700,000 affiliated members, most of whom participate in bridge competitions locally and many of whom compete nationally and internationally. The NBOs belong to

99-553: A player previously sanctioned for cheating. In protest, the remaining national teams refused to play against the Italians and subsequently forfeited their games. Several national bridge associations indicated support for the forfeitures. The Italian Bridge Federation vigorously protested the actions of the forfeiting players and their National Bridge Organizations (NBO) urging that the European Bridge League expel them from

132-532: A schedule whose details vary. In 2006 the Senior Pairs played Tuesday to Friday, the 11th to 14th days of the meet, after completion of all teams competition for seniors. There were eight sessions with 103 pairs on the first two days, 98 on the third, and 88 on the fourth. In seven renditions of the Senior Pairs through 2014, no player has won more than one medal. The 2014 silver and bronze medalists Lall–Milner and Kowalski–Romanski were two of three pairs that won

165-531: A second four-year term at a fractious Board of Directors meeting in 1990 where its European members favoured another candidate, José Damiani from France. The ongoing split in allegiance ultimately led to Howard resigning in January 1991 with an understanding that Ernesto d’Orsi from Brazil, who had distinguished himself as a leading bridge administrator, would succeed him on an interim basis. In turn in August 1992, d'Orsi left

198-806: A standard of ethics acceptable to the WBF. ZONE 1 – European Bridge League (Europe) 384,186 (46 NBOs) ZONE 2 – North American Bridge Federation (North America) 124,909 (3 NBOs) ZONE 3 – Confederation Sudamericana de Bridge (South America) 3,575 (10 NBOs) ZONE 4 – Bridge Federation of Asia & the Middle East (Asia & Middle East) 7,307 (11 NBOs) ZONE 5 – Central American & Caribbean Bridge Federation (Central American & Caribbean) 895 (14 NBOs) ZONE 6 – Asia Pacific Bridge Federation (Asia Pacific) 50,242 (12 NBOs) ZONE 7 – South Pacific Bridge Federation (South Pacific) 51,420 (04 NBOs) ZONE 8 – African Bridge Federation (Africa) 6,086 (12 NBOs) European Bridge League The European Bridge League

231-607: Is a confederation of National Bridge Federations (NBFs) that organize the card game of contract bridge in European nations. In turn the EBL organizes bridge competition at the European level. It is a member of the European Olympic Committee and of the World Bridge Federation , where it constitutes one of eight "Zones" in world bridge. Beside the administration of bridge competition (European level and European participation at

264-473: Is administered by an Executive Council which is assisted by the various Committees and Consultants it appoints. WBF Championships: The World Bridge Team Championships are held in the odd-numbered years: The World Bridge Games are held every fourth year, in the same year as the Summer Olympics, previously known as World Team Olympiad. The World Bridge Series Championships are held every fourth year, in

297-533: Is four years from late in even-number non-Olympiad years such as 2014. President Gianarrigo Rona (born 1940, Pavia ) was elected at the 2009 World Team Championships and succeeded José Damiani after the 2010 World Bridge Series. He was president of the European Bridge League (EBL) from 1999 to 2010. His term ends at year-end 2022. On 25 August 2022, in Wroclaw, Poland, Jan Kamras from Gothenburg, Sweden

330-501: Is in bridge Europe and Olympic Asia. The European "Small Federations" competition, established 2007, is restricted to national teams from federations with no more than 500 members. Twelve to sixteen teams have participated in the first three renditions. Nineteen of the 49 EBL nations appear to be eligible. At the other extreme, France and Netherlands account for half of the 384,000 players. Five other nations constitute another 30%: Italy, Germany, England, Denmark, and Sweden. Thus

363-521: The Bermuda Bowl , Venice Cup , and Senior Bowl (jointly the biennial "World Teams Championships"), and the quadrennial World Team Olympiads , incorporated in the World Mind Sports Games beginning 2008. The World Bridge Federation was founded August 1958 by delegates from Europe , North America , and South America (now Zones 1 to 3). It is incorporated under the laws of Switzerland as

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396-542: The US (1964–1968) and Count Carl Bonde, from Sweden (1968–1970), succeeded Baron de Nexon as WBF President. With the election of Julius Rosenblum in 1970, the WBF started to assume the figure of a real World Organization. Rosenblum strongly believed that bridge needed to have a visible central organization with a global reach rather than conducting its affairs on a local or continental basis. When in 1976 Rosenblum decided to retire for health reasons, Jaime Ortiz-Patiño from Switzerland,

429-593: The World Senior Teams Championship in the same meet, along with Michel Bessis–Philippe Cronier. World Bridge Federation The World Bridge Federation ( WBF ) is the international governing body of contract bridge . The WBF is responsible for world championship competitions, most of which are conducted at a few multi-event meets on a four-year cycle. The most prestigious championships are those for national teams in Open, Women, and Seniors categories:

462-449: The "zonal organization" in one of eight geographic zones. Each National Contract Bridge Organization agrees to fulfill certain requirements, such as opening its ranks to all its citizens and residents and upholding a standard of ethics acceptable to the WBF. The World Bridge Federation has a Congress to which each NBO is entitled to send one delegate. The Congress meets every second year, at Team Olympiads and at World Championships. The WBF

495-763: The By-Laws. Each zone has its own Zonal Conference of its member NBOs, organizing, managing and administrating its activity and conducting both its own zonal competitions and those delegated to it by the WBF. The 8 Zonal Conferences are in June 2021: The WBF has shown strong and steady growth and its membership now comprises 124 National Bridge Organizations (NBOs) with approximately 1,000,000 affiliated members who participate actively in competitive bridge events (locally, nationally and internationally). Each National Bridge Organization agrees to fulfill certain requirements, such as opening its ranks to all its citizens and residents and upholding

528-557: The EBL President is Yves Aubry. European bridge players are members of the national federations. As of 2010 there are 49 EBL member countries (NBFs) with nearly 400,000 member players. In turn that is nearly 40% of the countries and 60% of the players under the auspices of the World Bridge Federation. Contestants from EBL member countries have achieved great success at the world level. They won 22 of 27 medals in bridge at

561-773: The Europeans are nearly 40% of the countries and 60% of the players under the auspices of the World Bridge Federation. Geographically the EBL members range from Iceland to Malta to Israel to Armenia , who are all members of the European Olympic Committee too. Both "bridge Europe" and "Olympic Europe" have 49 members but only 44 match. England , Scotland , and Wales compete as three nations in bridge, Denmark and Faroe Islands compete as two, but they jointly constitute Great Britain and Denmark Olympic teams. Otherwise Andorra , Azerbaijan , Macedonia , and Moldova are in Olympic Europe but do not compete in world bridge. Lebanon

594-647: The International Olympic Committee's principles of the five IOC rings, the WBF structure is divided into five geographical Continental Conferences identical to the IOC's five rings. For organizational reasons the WBF established zones within any of the five Continents which, although part of a Continent, shall be entitled to have at least one member on the Executive and berths in WBF tournaments set forth in Article 9 of

627-571: The Olympic City, where it is incorporated under Swiss Law. The WBF is one of the founder members of IMSA (International Mind Sports Association) which was formed on 19 April 2005. José Damiani left the chair in November 2010 after 16 years of Presidency, achieving tremendous success in developing bridge, introducing new concepts of communication and information, which attracted media, sponsors and supporters; improving technological systems to manage and run

660-558: The Senior in 1995. The European Open Bridge Championships are biennial in odd years since 2003. The European Champions' Cup annually since 2002. The EBL organizes youth events annually in July, for youth teams and pairs that represent EBL member countries. The European Small Federations Trophy is contested by teams representing bridge nations with up to 500 members. In the 2021 European championships, Italy included Fulvio Fantoni on its team,

693-725: The WBF was recognized as an International Sport Federation in 1999 by the International Olympic Committee. In October 2000 in Monaco, the World Bridge Federation was admitted as a member of the GAISF (General Association of International Sports Federations – Olympic and non-Olympic) – now SportAccord – at the General Assembly of this Association. The WBF also became a member of ARISF (Association of Recognized International Sport Federations) and in October 2002 moved its headquarters to Lausanne (Switzerland),

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726-514: The chair to Robert S. Wolff from the US, one of the top players in the history of bridge, to complete Howard's term of office. In August 1994, José Damiani was elected president. José Damiani changed the way forward completely, both for the WBF and Bridge itself. Under his leadership, following its initial recognition as an International Organization in 1995 pursuant to Article 29 of the Olympic Charter,

759-493: The competitions, creating new events participated in by players of any category and developing youth bridge, opening the door and then constantly supporting and improving the teaching of bridge to the pupils in the schools. When he left, was elected WBF Chairman Emeritus by acclamation for his extraordinary services to bridge. In 2013 José Damiani was elected as WBF President Emeritus by acclamation. Gianarrigo Rona, from Italy, former First Vice-president and EBL President (1999–2010)

792-522: The first World Mind Sports Games , 2008 in Beijing . There were six EBL members in the field of 22 for the last national teams world championship, the 2009 Bermuda Bowl , and all six advanced to the 8-team knockout stage. European Bridge League members are National Bridge Federations and registered European bridge players are members of their national federations. As of 2010 there are 49 EBL member countries (NBFs) with nearly 400,000 member players. In turn

825-464: The organizational and administrative structure, to developing the discipline and its image, to introducing new rules and a rigid code of ethics is still effective even today. When he left the WBF in 1986 he was elected President Emeritus by acclamation for his exceptional services to bridge. Denis Howard, from Australia, succeeded him in the Presidency from 1986 to 1990. Howard was narrowly re-elected for

858-595: The other five geographical zones. In addition, two more members of the council are elected by the High Level Players Commission. Thus the council has twenty voting members, including the President. The Executive Council meets annually at the site of the World Championships. There is also a Management Committee which transacts necessary business between Executive Council meetings. The presidential term

891-463: The seven largest bridge nations have 80% of Europe's registered bridge players. Forty of the 49 EBL nations entered at least one national team in the 2010 European Team Championships : 38 in the Open category, 28 Women, and 23 Senior teams. Perhaps the primary EBL responsibility is to conduct those championships which accord the title European champion . The marquee championships for national teams are now biennial in even years. The 2012 rendition

924-632: The world level), the EBL provides online services for players, such as a calendar of tournaments across Europe, a list of bridge books with some reviews, and a record of major achievements by players. The European Bridge League was established in 1947 by eight NBFs meeting in Denmark. It is incorporated in Switzerland with headquarters in Lausanne , administrative center and secretariat in Milan, Italy . From June 2010

957-604: The year of World Cup. It includes the following main events: The purpose of the World Bridge Federation shall be: The World Bridge Federation is run by an Executive Council consisting of delegates from the eight geographical zones, plus the President. There are five delegates from the European Bridge League (Zone 1), five from the North American Bridge Federation (Zone 2), two from the Pacific Asia Bridge Federation (Zone 6) and one from each of

990-788: Was elected president in São Paulo September 2009 and took the chair in November 2010. He was re-elected in Bali in 2013. 103 Countries in 8 Zones (Updated at 31 March 2022): http://www.worldbridge.org/bridge-zones/qzone1/ http://www.worldbridge.org/bridge-zones/qzone2/ http://www.worldbridge.org/bridge-zones/qzone3/ http://www.worldbridge.org/bridge-zones/qzone4/ http://www.worldbridge.org/bridge-zones/qzone5/ http://www.worldbridge.org/bridge-zones/qzone6/ http://www.worldbridge.org/bridge-zones/qzone7/ http://www.worldbridge.org/bridge-zones/qzone8/ For purposes of administration and furtherance of its objectives and to comply with

1023-514: Was elected president. Under his guidance the WBF started its new modern era and in August 1977 was incorporated under the Laws of the State of New York as a "not for profit" organization. The Federation, cast off the mantle of a paternalistic organization, and was re-structured as an International Federation devoted to offering its members the best possible service. The stimulation given by Ortiz-Patiño to building

World Senior Pairs Championship - Misplaced Pages Continue

1056-518: Was officially the 51st, which recognizes some that predate the EBL. The European Bridge League (est. 1947) has conducted the event from 1948 when competition was resumed after World War II. Previously and first in 1932 it was organized by the International Bridge League, predecessor of the World Bridge Federation (est. 1958). The Open flight was first contested in 1932, the Women in 1935, and

1089-452: Was unanimously elected as WBF President, to take up the office on 1 January 2023. He had been elected European Bridge League president in 2018. The World Bridge Federation was formed on 18 August 1958 in Oslo , Norway , by delegates from Europe, US and South America and Baron Robert de Nexon, from France , an inspiring figure in bridge , was elected as first President. Charles J. Solomon, from

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