Le logo du CAC ! symbolique !
Jean-Louis DERIVERY, dans ce mot de Président, exprime son analyse du Bridge dans la Caraïbe et de par le monde ! Une vrai géostratégie du Bridge… et l’impérieuse nécessité de recruter chez les jeunes… C’est un fait que beaucoup de participants au tournoi du Créole Beach Hôtel sont des ‘retired » ! Mais la période choisie pour cette manifestation n’est pas non plus favorable à la participation de scolaires en pleine période d’examens !
Sans doute un peu surpris d’être de nouveau Président 25 ans après sa première présidence, (mais nécessité fait loi) il cumule ce poste avec celui de trésorier du WBF ce qui lui a valu d’être le représentant du Board International !
Compliments et Bon travail ! Juste une petite réserve sur l’utilisation exclusive de la langue anglaise qui peut dans une stratégie vers les plus jeunes représenter un sérieux handicap ! Le Bridge c’est aussi l’élégance la politesse (Fair Play).
Dernière et toute petite remarque le drapeau de la Guadeloupe sur le site de BBO ! Si la Guadeloupe veut se distinguer absolument de la France, en matière de Bridge, elle pourrait plus avantageusement choisir l’écusson de la Guadeloupe à l’exemple de la Martinique ! Petite remarque ai-je dit ! mais… en ces temps d’incertitude, pourquoi laisser des cartes (c’est le mot) à nos indépendantistes trop heureux de faire référence à cette touche incongrue !
Dans ce texte retranscrit de l’excellent site anglophone du CAC, les mots en caractère gras sont de mon initiative ! Pour la traduction, je passe le relai à d’autres bridgeurs qui me lisent et qui peuvent traduire s’ils en ressentent le besoin !
A WORD FROM THE NEW CACBF PRESIDENT
Dear friends,
It was certainly not on my agenda to take over once again as zonal president. I am not anymore a young man, since I was CACBF President for the first time in 1983 and have represented the zone in the WBF Executive Council since 1991.
But it happens that there is no other solution today, and I have therefore accepted the duty for two years, although being already quite busy, in bridge and in my other activities.
You have certainly noticed that we were less numerous at our zonal championship. With the transfer of Colombia and Venezuela back to South America, our number of players has dramatically dropped.
I have endeavoured to keep our rights at the international level, but that was not easy, as the center of gravity of world bridge is clearly moving east, with a number of young and capable players entering the field. Africa is also raising, and Europe, although with some difficulty, is still the first bridge power in the world.
It means that, if we are to survive as a zone, or as an efficient part of the American Olympic Ring, and if bridge is to remain a recognized mind sport in our area, we all must make efforts to increase the number of players. All of our bridge administrators are aware of the necessity to attract young players, and several of our member countries have developped teaching programmes for youth. We should go further in realizing a solid teaching library. There are nowadays excellent books in any of our languages, so that those books can be lent to the youngsters. These young players should also be encouraged to the clubs, give them a friendly welcome there, play with them, and educate them.
Young people are like any of us. They like to feel around a real atmosphere of friendship. Otherwise, they are apt to think that bridge is not a thing for them. They like to receive advices from better players, but they sometimes are a little touchy, and quick to react in an excessive manner, as I have recently experienced myself.
I am still in a position, as treasurer of the WBF, and with full approval of the WBF Board, to financially help those countries which will undertake or develop teaching programmes. But we need the help of all bridge administrators and of our players.
Please take some of your bridge time to bring to the game young people, play with them, and help them to discover the intellectual beauty of our mind sport. After that, they will themselves help you by attracting their friends. May I also remind that the WBF general policy is to charge young people a reduced or even zero fee.
The CACBF Board has allocated the 2011 venue to Cuba. There are a certain number of pending matters to be solved with regard to that tournament, but we think that the world evolution favours the introduction of Cuba among the countries officially playing bridge, and the previous festivals held there have shown that the site was adequate for an important bridge event.
To allow me to build up my new CACBF file, I would be grateful to all NBOs presidents to send me a short note as « state of scene » indicating number of players and clubs, number of young players, teaching programmes if any, expected brige events in the incoming two years period. I really need that information in order to upgrade my knowledge.
I hope to see some of you, in addition to the qualifying teams, whom I congratulate, in Sao Paulo next september.
Sincerely
Jean-Louis DERIVERY
Pour les résultats complets de cette compétition consultez le site du CAC et le « Victory Bulletin » :
Guadeloupe Attitude 