"Bridge is a sport and as such your place is here like all other sports", said Juan Antonio Samaranch, the President of the International Olympic Committee, (IOC), welcoming the World Bridge family into the IOC's Olympic Museum in Lausanne, Monday.

Mr Samaranch was addressing six top bridge teams representing the entire globe who gathered in Lausanne to contest the Grand Prix hosted by the International Olympic Committee. This was the first time the IOC had taken such a positive step towards the recognition of bridge as a sport. This is expected to happen in 2002 or 2006 when bridge will be part of the Winter Olympic Games.

The President of the IOC's historic statement was made while responding to José Damiani, President of the World Bridge Federation, who expressed his delight that the doors of the Olympic Museum had opened for mind sports, including bridge. Mr Damiani stressed his gratitude also to Marc Hodler, Vice President of the IOC, who has been instrumental in the fastly developing ties between bridge and the IOC.

The six teams competing for the IOC Grand Prix represent the five countries who have won the Bridge Olympiad since its inception in 1960. This quadrennial competition attracts scores of countries but only Brazil, France, Italy, Poland and the USA have ever won it. China, the Far East Champion, join them to complete a global representation.

In the opening matches of the historic IOC Grand Prix China recorded the biggest victory defeating Poland by 51 IMPs which converted to 24-6VPs. They are at the top of the table followed by France who staged a tremendous second half comeback to overcome Italy by 31 IMPs or 21-9 VP. Third place is occupied by the other first round winners USA who outscored Brazil by 25 IMPs to record a 20-10 VP win.