In
the Open Series Russia and Norway have changed places and they
are hotly pursued by Italy and Poland. Greece continues to
stay among the leaders and is followed by Austria and France.
There is still no sign of a gap developing, and the tremendous
struggle we have been expecting appears to be
materialising. In the Womens Series the surprise leaders
are Hungary, ahead of four of the favourites, Italy, England,
Germany and the Netherlands. The Senior Teams is headed by
the notional second teams of three countries, Germany 2, Italy
2 and France 2. Then come France 1 and England 1. In the
Transnational Ladies Teams Cup Italy 4 have a commanding lead
from Italy 1 and Israel/Scotland.
Radoslaw
Kielbasinski of Poland, Marijke Blanken Burgers of The
Netherlands, José Oliveira of Portugal and Micke Melander of
Sweden were elected. At a meeting
of the Executive Committee held immediately afterwards José
Oliveira was unanimously elected Second Vice-President filling
the position held by Laurens Hoedemaker.
Before the
election, WBF President José Damiani showed the delegates the
presentation he and president Rona had made to the European
Olympic Committee (EOC) General Assembly last November in
Warsaw, Poland. The presentation aimed at explaining to the
European Olympic family why Bridge is a true sport rather than
a lucky game. The presentation was well received here as it
was in Warsaw.
José Oliveira served as President of the
Portuguese Bridge Federation for many years and he was the
organiser of the successful European Championships in
Villamoura in 1995 where he was elected member of the EBL
Executive Committee. He was re-elected in 1997 for a four year
term. While on the Committee Oliveira negotiated successfully
the dissolution of the European Union Bridge League and its
integration into the EBL. Two years ago he became Chairman of
the NBO Liaison Committee that takes care of NBO relations and
their contact with the EBL. Last year he organised together
with the President the NBO administrator's seminar in
Viserbella, Italy which was highly successful and appreciated
by all.
