WBF President’s Opening Speech

Madam Liu Yandong, State Councillor
Dear Presidents of the International and National Federations of Mind Sports,
Dear Players, Dear Friends,

The Beijing Olympic Games and the Paralympics were a tremendous success for China and the entire world.

It is our pleasure to congratulate our Chinese friends for the quality of the organization and the performance of their athletes.

We of the International Mind Sports Association are very confident that the first edition of the World Mind Sports Games will be held along the same lines and will prove that if “civilizations varied, wisdom unbounded,” they do not have boundaries. This will be the case here, where we are able to gather 3,000 players representing 140 different countries and regions.

The magnificent preparations done by the Chinese Organizing Committee in cooperation with IMSA will, hopefully, result in a successful event.

Thank you very much my friends, thank you from the bottom of my heart and on behalf of all the players.

Players, my friends, thank you all for being here with us and prepared to play in your different Mind Sports with the same spirit of fairness.

You are the ones who will show to the world that we can combine harmony and honour even in tough competition.

I am sure you will find here in Beijing the best conditions of play thanks to the kindness of the Chinese people, authorities and volunteers and thanks also to the help of our sponsors who will all become friends of our Smart Games for Smart People.

I would now like to invite China State Councillor Madame Liu Yandong to announce the opening of the first World Mind Sports Games.

José Damiani
Beijing, China – October 2008