Let me again, and first thank Mr. Rallis, the former Prime Minister, and the Greek Authorities for their help in holding this 5th edition of the Generali World Masters.

I am also particularly pleased to thank Mr. Alfonso Desiata President of the Generali Group, and Mr. Gantenbein representing Generali here tonight for their tremendous support.

All of us, and you the players, are extremely grateful to Generali who make this event possible. All together we demonstrate that bridge has really became a sport, and deserves its recognition by the International Olympic Committee of the WBF as an International Sport Federation.

This was one of the main reasons for being here in Athens, the birthplace of the Olympic movement. For that we are specially thankful to Mr. Nikolaou, President of the Greek National Olympic Committee, who honours us with his presence. Zappion has been the theatre of a great sports championship, and a great show with our bridge vision. Of course you the players deserve the main congratulations as you were the real actors.

However behind the scenes many people have worked for what has been a real success: First, our friends from the Hellenic Bridge Federation led by its President George Karlaftis. He made the biggest sacrifice as he did not play for the first time since the creation of the Generali World Masters. Nevertheless he deserves the gold medal as co-organizer. With him, and I am sure you share my opinion, I want to offer on your behalf flowers to Mrs. Karlaftis, Helen Kontargyris, Annie Karamanli and Fofo Amarantini. These ladies took care of everything in the preparation, in the welcoming, and in assisting in making you stay enjoyable.

Thanks will go also to Dimitris Ballas the Operations Director, and his staff, among which was Aggelos Mallios the electronic engineer, which shows that international cooperation is always profitable. This was led by my colleagues on the WBF board, Panos Gerontopoulos, Vice President in charge of the youth and Jean-Claude Beineix EBL Vice President and WBF Councilor.

Indeed the Bulletin Editor Mark Horton came from England, while Stelios Hatzidakis, the Layout Editor is from Greece as is Thanassis Matziaris the Internet Editor of the WBF site, while Koen Gijsman from Bridge Plaza who reports on every hand, comes from the Netherlands.

Many people came from France with the support of the French Bridge Federation: for the Bridge show Jean-Paul and Michelle Meyer, Elisabeth Antelme and Laurent Rigaud, with the Zoomescope crew for the video images. Costas Kapayiannidis contributed with talent the comments in Greek. The French Director Claude Dadoun, Chief Tournament Director of the EBL, Jean-Louis Pennec managed to direct the tournament very smoothly while Jean-Claude Pourcelot provided the results.

Thus the world, as well as the Greek medias followed your exploits, through newspapers, television, radio and Internet, with a special mention for the juniors who competed for the first time in this big championship, and will discover the beauty and the historical Greek sites. Congratulation to the winners and medallists in the three competitions. Thank to all of you who were so kind to confirm how happy you were to participate. Jose Damiani President of the World Bridge Federation