Bridge - Chess - Draughts - Go

Bridge

The World Bridge Federation (WBF) was formed in August 1958 by delegates from Europe, USA and South America. The WBF is recognized by the IOC as an International Sports Federation in 1999. In 2000 the WBF became a full member of the GAISF (now SportAccord). The WBF has shown strong and steady growth and its membership now comprises 130 National Bridge Organizations (NBOs) on 5 continents with approximately 1,000,000 affiliated members who participate actively in competitive bridge events (locally, nationally and internationally). Based on many positive aspects of bridge the WBF promotes it as a sport for young and old.

Principle

Bridge is a game of communication between a pair of players, playing in partnership, and their opposing pair. A contract is decided during the first phase, called the auction. Then the second phase involves the play of the cards and is based on information gained, together with the probabilities of card distribution.
Duplicate bridge gives a comparison of results obtained by different pairs holding the same cards, and thus no luck is involved. It is, in reality, a game of skill and judgment, a true sport.

Specific information

Through its World Educational Foundation, the WBF has developed a teaching programme especially for schools supported by UNESCO.
This programme is actively used in many countries (US, France, Italy, Germany, Netherlands, Poland, China, Indonesia…).

• Bridge provides excellent mental training and exercise, involving the calculation of probabilities, analysis of data and the use of memory.
• In Bridge, the understanding created between partners is of great importance and consequently communication, harmony and solidarity come first.

WBF Championships

• Regular WBF Championships are held annually in the early autumn, in accordance with a four year cycle.
• The World Bridge Team Championships in the odd years
• (Bermuda Bowl, Venice Cup, Senior D'Orsi Cup and World Transnational Open Teams).
• The World Bridge Games Championships in the Summer Olympic year.
• The World Bridge Series in the other even year.
• The World Bridge Youth Championship every year.

Chess

Founded in Paris on 20 July 1924, the World Chess Federation (Fédération Internationale des Echecs - FIDE) is the supreme body responsible for the organization of the game globally. There are 165 national federations in membership covering all continents with 800.000 affiliated members. The FIDE was recognized by the IOC in June 1999 as an International Sports Federation. In 2005 the FIDE became a full member of the GAISF. Apart from the organization of World Championships, FIDE has an active programme for assistance to chess developing countries. Emphasis is also given to the benefit of chess as part of the education system.

Principle

The Royal Game of Chess. Originally the game of kings, chess today is a sport for all. Sixteen white pieces battle against 16 black pieces on a board of 64 squares.

Specific information

• The purpose and aim of FIDE is the diffusion and development of Chess among nations of the world, as well as the raising of chess culture and knowledge on a sporting, scientific, creative and cultural basis level.
• Chess is played at schools throughout the world. Some of the scholastic events in places like Russia and USA involve very large numbers.

FIDE regular Championships

• World Championship every two years
• International Team Championships every 2 years
• World Team Championship every 4 years
• World Junior and Youth every year
• World Seniors every year
• World Schools Team and Individual Championships every year

Draughts

The FMJD, (Fédération Mondiale du Jeu de Dames) World Draughts Federation, was founded in 1947 by four federations, France, the Netherlands, Belgium and Switzerland. Its main purpose was to regulate the competition on the world championship. From this early start, the FMJD grew to close to fifty participating national federations it has at present, more than 25% of which are countries in Africa. Recently the FMJD has become a member of the GAISF. The FMJD membership is part of a more general movement towards integration of mind sports in the regular sports arenas, a development that in the vision of the FMJD is to be lauded.

Principle

Draughts is an elimination game where one player tries to capture all the pieces belonging to his or her opponent on a board with 100 squares.

Specific information

• A game played all over the world with strong roots in Europe and Asia.

FMJD regular Championships

• Championships for women were introduced in 1973, for juniors in 1971, cadets in 1988 and girls in 1989.
• Team championships started in 1967 for the senior players and in 1987 for the juniors.
• Individual European championships, for seniors and youth.
• International inter-club competitions.

Go

For 4000 years the sport of Go has fascinated tens of millions of people. Rooted in the culture and history of Korea, China and Japan, and recognized as a powerful educational tool, Go is now conquering the world. The International Go Federation (IGF), founded in 1981, unites the ever increasing number of Go fans in the 68 member countries. At the GAISF General Assembly in Seoul the IGF applied for full membership.

Principle

Go is the oldest board game –and has fascinated for three thousand years. Go is a territorial game, where each player tries to surround the largest part of the board. The sport originated in East-Asia and is now played around the world."

Key figures

• 60 million players
• 68 countries / 5 continents

Specific information

• Go originated in South-East Asia, and the majority of Go players and fans will be found in that area. Private initiative characterises the organisation of Go which explains the strong ties with the media and business.
• GO is well recognized by Asian people & institutions.
• In China, the government strongly supports the organisation and promotion of Go.
• In Japan, Go is recognised as an instrument contributing to key elements of human life, such as young people’s education, leisure activities, mental care for the aged, promotion of culture.
• In Korea the demand for Go is rising rapidly. A number of Korean youngsters are the top players in the world. They are role models for the Korean youth. In many schools Go is part of the curriculum.
• Many Go teachers and promoters have travelled around the world and popularised the game of Go.

Nowadays, Go is heavily broadcast in Asia

• 15 Chinese television networks. Go broke the record of TV viewers on CCTV.
• 3 Korean TV channels are dedicated solely to GO.
• Japan’s National Station (NHK) organises a tournament running throughout the year which is broadcast for two hours every Sunday, attracting a very large audience.