Opening Speech by Ernesto d'Orsi

Once more, and this is the fifth time, Brazil has the honour of welcoming the best bridge players of the world this time for the Bermuda Bowl, the Venice Cup, the d`Orsi Seniors Bowl and the Transnational Open. This event was made possible by way of the support of the Municipality of the City of São Paulo. The Mayor of São Paulo, Mr. Gilberto Kassab, has honoured us with his presence here tonight. I would like to thank him, as well the Secretary of Sports, Mr. Walter Feldman. In addition, the Municipality of São Paulo is offering the ‘São Paulo City Cup,’ a new tournament that will be played during the knockout phase of the WorldTransnational Open Teams.

I want to say also how grateful the Brazilian Bridge Federation is to the sponsors who believe in this Mind Sport and its potential as an educational tool as well as an entertainment instrument, of course, with its highly competitive characteristics. I would like to mention Bradesco Seguros e Previdência, J. Macêdo, Thyssen Krupp, Copag, Fiat, Bolsa de Imóveis, Brasvending, CSN that together with some others who, I know, prefer not to be mentioned, were instrumental and fundamental to accomplishing our objectives for these championships.

To you my friends, players and officials, I hope you will enjoy São Paulo and profit from our hospitality. I`m sure this will be a highly competitive tournament, but it also will be a marvelous show of techniques, ethics and deportment.

Good luck.

Ernesto d’Orsi, President Emeritus of the Brazilian Bridge Federation