Rona receives IBPA honor

Gianarrigo Rona

Gianarrigo Rona, president of the European Bridge League and architect of the first-ever European Open Bridge Championships, has been selected as the Personality of the Year by the International Bridge Press Association. The award was presented at the organization’s annual meeting yesterday.

Rona, 63, is also president of the Italian Bridge Federation.

IBPA President Patrick Jourdain, in presenting the award, praised Rona and the EBL for conceiving of and conducting the first open European tournament, in Menton last June. Jourdain added in jest, “Our candidate has such influence in high places that one might have expected him to also arrange for the weather to suit the playing area’s lack of air condition,” a reference to the heat wave which swept Europe last summer and made conditions very difficult in Menton. “That he did not,” continued Jourdain, “proves merely that he is human.”

Ron lives in Milan with his wife, Cippi. He is a retired fourth-generation attorney. In his youth, he was a fine basketball player and once was an official of the Italian federation for powerboat racing.

As a bridge player, Rona is a WBF International Master. He was non-playing captain of the Italian open team in 1984 and 1985. He has been president of the Italian Bridge Federation since 1986.

Under his presidency, Junior bridge in Italy is thriving.

Rona has been EBL president since 1999.