Champing at the bit to get started on their respective quests for gold medals, competitors in the three main events of the World Bridge Championships gathered on Saturday for the formal opening ceremonies for the Bermuda Bowl, Venice Cup and Seniors Bowl.

The round-robin phases of the three events begin today. The World Transnational Open Teams begins Oct. 31.

The tournament was officially opened at 7:30 p.m. by World Bridge Federation President Jose Damiani, assisted by Cascais Mayor Antonio d’Orey Capucho, Herculano Ferreira, president of the Portuguese Bridge Federation; Rui Mourinha, vice president of the Sport Institute of Portugal, and Duarte Nobre Guedes, chairman of the Estoril Tourist Board.

All of them were presented trophies to commemorate the ceremonies.

" I’m sure," said Damiani, "that these championships will give you a chance to discover this country and the hospitality of the people."

The 66 teams – plus, among others, non-playing captains and coaches -- packed the auditorium at the Centro de Congressos, where all play will take place. The teams were introduced, in turn, by Zia Mahmood (Venice Cup), Lorenzo Lauria (Seniors) and Sabine Auken (Bermuda Bowl).

The host teams from Portugal all received warm applause from the audience.

Zia, Lauria and Auken are also competitors – Lauria is part of the Italian team hoping to avenge their final-board defeat at the hands of USA1 in Monte Carlo two years ago; Zia is playing in the Seniors Bowl, and Auken, Venice Cup winner in Paris in 2001, will again play for Germany.

Damiani thanked the organizers of the tournament for doing "everything possible" to make the tournament a success from the standpoint of orderly competition – and enjoyment for the players and those who accompanied them to Portugal.

Capucho, introduced by emcee Ton Kooijman (also tournament operations director), told the crowd, "It’s a great honor for us to host this important competition."