[hrothgar]

As sad as it might seem, I get genuinely excited reading Jose Damiani's annual speech to the WBF congress. It offers much the same thrill as slowing down to watch a accident on the side of the road. You never know just when you'll get see body parts...

Here were a few of my favorite elements from the speech.

1. The WBF is continuing its fruitless quest to gain acceptance as an Olympic Sport. The latest WBF masterstroke is a proposal to reduce the number of WBF Zones to 5 in order to match the number of Olympic Rings and demonstrate how seriously "we" are committed to the Olympics. If this doesn't work, Damiani plans to cut off his left ear with a razor. (This whole thing is starting to remind me of some obessive stalker fixated on his ex-girlfriend)

2. The WBF has a new recruiting slogan. Its not quite as good as "Bridge is Cool". None-the-less, the simplicity and charm of the phrase "Bridge, together with music, is the only Universal language" can not be denied.

3. The WBF is actively promoting its new, improved symmetrical playing cards. It's granted exclusive licenses (aka local monopolies) to print the cards to various companies and is hopeful that the WBF will be able to raise significant funds selling these cards to players arround the world. As always, its difficult to take the WBF ethical pronouncements seriously when they treat their "solution" as a money making scheme.

Not to be outdone, entrepreneur Gilles Cohen has announced plans to offer official certification tests to demonstrate that individuals are able to play bridge.

Definitely a cracked windshield this time arround.
Still waiting for another "severed head"... (Haven't seen one of those since the whole random drug testing issue back in 2002)

[kfgauss]

hrothgar, on Jun 18 2006, 12:09 AM, said:

As sad as it might seem, I get genuinely excited reading Jose Damiani's annual speech to the WBF congress. It offers much the same thrill as slowing down to watch a accident on the side of the road. You never know just when you'll get see body parts...

Here were a few of my favorite elements from the speech.

1. The WBF is continuing its fruitless quest to gain acceptance as an Olympic Sport. The latest WBF masterstroke is a proposal to reduce the number of WBF Zones to 5 in order to match the number of Olympic Rings and demonstrate how seriously "we" are committed to the Olympics. If this doesn't work, Damiani plans to cut off his left ear with a razor. (This whole thing is starting to remind me of some obessive stalker fixated on his ex-girlfriend)

2. The WBF has a new recruiting slogan. Its not quite as good as "Bridge is Cool". None-the-less, the simplicity and charm of the phrase "Bridge, together with music, is the only Universal language" can not be denied.

3. The WBF is actively promoting its new, improved symmetrical playing cards. It's granted exclusive licenses (aka local monopolies) to print the cards to various companies and is hopeful that the WBF will be able to raise significant funds selling these cards to players arround the world. As always, its difficult to take the WBF ethical pronouncements seriously when they treat their "solution" as a money making scheme.

Not to be outdone, entrepreneur Gilles Cohen has announced plans to offer official certification tests to demonstrate that individuals are able to play bridge.

Definitely a cracked windshield this time arround.
Still waiting for another "severed head"... (Haven't seen one of those since the whole random drug testing issue back in 2002)

Where does one find this speech?

Regarding point 1, I don't know much about the state of things. Have "mind sports" essentially been rejected from the winter olympics (there were demonstration games in 2002 but then nothing in 2006)? While the proposed zone change you mention does sound awfully silly (unless there's something else going on, such as some Olympics committee wanting sports to have 5 zones), getting into the Olympics would presumably be great for bridge, so I can see why they're persisting.

Andy

[hrothgar]

> Where does one find this speech?

Vugraph #7, dated Friday the 16th

>Have "mind sports" essentially been rejected from the winter olympics
>(there were demonstration games in 2002 but then nothing in 2006)?

My understanding is that the IOC has explictly stated that the Winter Olympics will be limited to sports that compete on ice or snow. I believe that the IOC also rejected including bridge in the Summer games (space is very tightly limited).

>Getting into the Olympics would presumably be great for bridge, so I can see
>why they're persisting.

Many people (myself included) are dubious about the merits of bridge as an Olympic sport. Personally, I believe that the resources develoted to this effort could be spent much better in other areas. Its worth nothing that the Olympics themselves are associated with a large number of very ugly financial scandals. I think that it would be a good idea to steer well clear of the IOC. All and all, i think that the entire effort is best viewed as an expensive distraction.

Associated with this, participating in the Olympic program introduces a hell of a lot of baggage. For example, the IOC requires extensive drug testing. Many of the drugs that the IOC tests for (and bans) are regularly used by bridge players. (Caffeine, Nicotine, and Beta Blockers are all obvious examples). The drug police are also testing for a variety of other drugs (pot) which happen to be illegal but really don't impact level of play. I really don't see the merits of introducing personal morality into a a competivie endeveour.

[the saint]

I'm all for drug testing irrespective of whether Bridge attempts to become an Olympic sport. I also think a lot of players would see a marked increase in their performances if they trained like olympic athletes. Mental and physical fitness go hand in hand. If caffeine and other stimulants are illegal, then physical training to improve stamina is the logical alternative and with all the attendant health benefits too.

[foo]

Bridge is a game, not a sport.

IMHO getting confused regarding this and trying to make Bridge an Olympic sport demeans both Bridge and the Olympics to the detriment of both.

[Al_U_Card]

If you can both drink and smoke while you are doing it, it is not a sport......

[lalislol]

ROFL...feel I must add my seven cents worth. (Inflation is REALLY bad.) Trying to envision an athelete with discus in one hand and thirteen cards in the other, or a broad-jumper grunting 'foouur spaaades' in mid-air, leaves me in stitches.

BIOAG is my philosophy as posted long ago. Any attempt at making bridge an Olympic sport is ludicrous (to be polite). Those trying to do so are delusional or seeking self-aggrandizement.

Please do not make bridge a sport...I'm much too lazy for intense physical activity.

[cherdano]

hrothgar, on Jun 18 2006, 02:09 AM, said:

1. The WBF is continuing its fruitless quest to gain acceptance as an Olympic Sport. The latest WBF masterstroke is a proposal to reduce the number of WBF Zones to 5 in order to match the number of Olympic Rings and demonstrate how seriously "we" are committed to the Olympics. If this doesn't work, Damiani plans to cut off his left ear with a razor. (This whole thing is starting to remind me of some obessive stalker fixated on his ex-girlfriend)

From what I understand, the newly formed "International Mind Sports Association" formed by the federations of bridge, chess, checkers and go has the idea of having some world mind sport games before or after the olympic summer games (at the same venue). If this goal is realistic (which getting bridge into olympics doesn't seem to be), I think this would be good way to get positive publicity for all 4 games involved. I am rather sympathetic. I admit its a bigger thing for go than for chess or bridge.

Arend

[helene_t]

the saint, on Jun 18 2006, 08:54 PM, said:

I'm all for drug testing irrespective of whether Bridge attempts to become an Olympic sport. I also think a lot of players would see a marked increase in their performances if they trained like olympic athletes. Mental and physical fitness go hand in hand. If caffeine and other stimulants are illegal, then physical training to improve stamina is the logical alternative and with all the attendant health benefits too.

Good point. Not sure if you'll get much support for a coffee ban, though. A tobacco ban may be more realistic.

As for bridge as an olympic sport: maybe it's a funds-raising issue. It might be easier to attract sponsors if you're part of the olympic team, especially from (semi-)governmental institutions who have the policy of sponsoring olympic sports. Personally I don't have problems with it. If the IOC wants bridge on the prgramme it's fine with me.

[the saint]

Al_U_Card, on Jun 19 2006, 01:21 PM, said:

If you can both drink and smoke while you are doing it, it is not a sport......

You can drink and smoke while running. You just won't be very good at it.

[cherdano]

the saint, on Jun 28 2006, 12:05 AM, said:

Al_U_Card, on Jun 19 2006, 01:21 PM, said:

If you can both drink and smoke while you are doing it, it is not a sport......

You can drink and smoke while running. You just won't be very good at it.

yeah, I am better at drinking when watching TV on the couch