2012 WUC Bridge Update: Inspection Visit Host City

BRUSSELS – On June 8^th and 9^th, Laurent Briel, Director for World University Championships, accompanied by FISU Bridge Chair of the Technical Committee, Geert Magerman visited the Local Organizing Committee of the 2012 World University Bridge Championship to be held in Reims, France from July 10^th to 15^th, 2012.

Geert Magerman & Patrick GrentheThis Meeting was attended by the President of the Organising Committee, Mr Thierry Letellier, the Directors of the OC, Ms Annabel Marx and Mr Patrick Bogacki, the President of the French Bridge Federation (FFB), Mr Patrick Grenthe, the General Director of the French Bridge Federation, Ms Alba Capelli Gublin. The municipality of Reims showed its support to the event being represented by Mr Jean Maillet, Head of Office of the Mayor Adeline Hazan. Important interest of the French NUSF, la Fédération Française du Sport Universitaire (FFSU), was also demonstrated with the attendance of three representatives, Mr Damien Bardot, Director for Communication, Mr Joël Corbeau, Deputy Director in charge of Bridge within FFSU, and Mr Vincent Rognon, Deputy Director in charge of International Events.

The involvement and enthusiasm of both the FFSU and the FFB towards the organisation of the World University Bridge Championship was clearly demonstrated judging by the key persons attending the visit. This large attendance was highly appreciated by the FISU representatives, and highlighted as a major factor in achieving a good event.

The visit was organised in order to assess the evolutions in terms of accommodation, catering, venue for the competition and the venues for the opening and closing ceremonies.

To conclude the visit, FISU representatives and OC visited the famous Mumm champaign cellars where the awarding ceremonies and closing banquet are most probably going to be held.

Mr Laurent Briel insisted on the importance of communication and promotion and encouraged the Organizing Committee to develop the relations with the national and international Bridge federations and the national university sport federations as well as FISU in order to insure good participation and organisation.

(Source: Julien Buhajezuk, Asst. WUC)

At the city hall

The competition venue