HBJ : Just a curious question : what should a player or team do if discovering a major cover up at the highest level inside the competition’s governing body of ( say) alleged cheating ?

I do agree entirely that there is no place for outside poilitical issues entering the sporting world of the bridge arena, but what approach should be adopted regarding internal poilitical shenanigans ?

I am a firm believer in whistle-blowing where no other avenues are open to expose corruption and injustice. Moreover, I do not believe in having absolute rules. There must always be exceptions to a rule, alongwith exceptions to the exceptions. This allows the law to adapt and be flexible to cater for every possible situation.

HI JHG,

You speak of truth, logic, practical application, freedom of mind and spirit as well as how it is related to tongue. Through the years (possibly 40+) there have been right-on allegations of local (host) misapplication of taxes on hotel rooms, inflated prices, political cronyism, shady financial dealings as well as detailed caught cheating cases, often swept under the table to coin an apt phrase, (Bermuda 1975 with the foot soldiers, I was there playing on the team which lost to the nimble ballet performers) so as not to scandalize worldwide the game itself.

I’ve been there for 1980, Valkenburg, Holland when we were met at the airport continuing into town with us a semi-violent contingent demanding that South Africa not be allowed to participate in the World Team Olympiac because of their brutal apartheid policy, in 1993 (as President of the WBF) when the mainland China Embassy threatened our very existence if we did not take down the Chinese Taipet’s flag which surrounded the hotel and the playing area of the tournament and of course, the continuing life-threatening relationship between Arabs and Jews in the middle East with the Arab world not allowing any of their teams (usually around 5 per 70 teams in the World Team Olympiad) to even play against Israel, even though forfeiting their matches in spite of both the players from Israel and their Arab friends great buddies in bridge and among each other’s best friends at the table or socially, but because of the politics, worse since then, demanding that they not compete against each other.

In other words, I’ve been exposed to the worst to go along with the nothing short of magnificent mental competition that only our game offers at the world level so that I have had much time to contemplate on what should be done.

And now to address your specific concerns about how very sticky situations are dealt with.

At the victory dinner, tears have always found my eyes (whether I am among the winners or more often the losers, or at least just an administrator). Wonderful intelligent (for the most part) real people arrive at the final occasion to applaud for the victors, not really noting their religion, race, heritage or social standing. All they want to do, along with the national anthems, is recognize their winning (something which has to be experienced to appreciate) and as members of the human race, be congratulated properly and thoroughly .

To relate a personal experience my mind has wandered to the surviving gladiators (if there were any in Rome), to the winners of America’s Congression Medal of Honor, our highest award, probably similar to Knighthood in your glorious country), to major Nobel Peace Prizes, and even to 1936 when the infamous Adolf Hitler must have been revolted to have to honor non-aryans who won the gold.

Anyway, my point is that (and I’ll leave it up to you) with 70+ countries in attendance, should this proud audience have to endure a political discussion on why they themselves do not like our President, therefore holding up the ceremony? To me it was probably worse than for most people, although with the hushed silence that came over the audience it was pretty obvious how they felt.

JHG, again you and I, even if we had 5 serious discussions per day would agree oin 90+% on how we feel, but (at least someone once said) there is a time and place for most everything and during that ceremony was not the time nor the place for that interruption.

Much more could be said in decribing these cherished moments, but I hope it is not necessary. I do appreciate your questions and your concern. NEVER, EVER CHANGE!

Your great friend,

Bobby

Hi HBJ:

Aside from the ugly chit-chat re the ceremonies, I must inject a cheery note, The Dutch (who speak English better than some of my friends at home) are the warmest, friendliest and most polite group I have ever encountered at a world championship. Probably does have a lot to do with the common tongue. The rules and regulations of the WBF are firm, but conducted in a polite though affirmative matter. The clerks at the desk as well as the restaurant employees go the whole nine yards to satisfy you if they can. And, as I’ve mentioned several time before, the WBF/HOLLAND hospitality staff are above and beyond.

Aside from the long corridors, they couldn’t have selected a better site! We’ll sleep well this evening from the constant exhaustion of the daily exercise (even though my scooter arrived).

Nighty-night!

Judy