World Bridge Federation
The World Bridge Federation is the world governing body of the card game Bridge. The WBF is responsible for the implementation of the World Championships, which are usually held in a four -year cycle. The most prestigious championships for national teams in the open, who are women and the elderly category: the Bermuda Bowl, the Venice Cup and Senior Bowl (collectively, the two-year "World Team Championships " ), and discharged in the four-year Rhyhtmus World Team Olympiad, which since 2008 is part of the World Mind Sports Games.
The World Bridge Federation was founded in August 1958 by delegates from Europe, and North and South America in accordance with the Swiss laws as a non-profit organization. Harold Stirling Vanderbilt was the first honorary member of the WBF because of his work in the development of the game. Since October 2010 Gianarrigo Rona is from Italy, the President.
The WBF today consists of 123 National Bridge Organizations ( NBOs ) with approximately 700,000 members who participate in local bridge competitions and compete nationally and internationally. The NBOs are part of one of the eight zones organizations. Each national bridge organization meets certain prerequisites, such as the opening for all inhabitants of the respective zone and keeping a certain ethical standards.
The World Bridge Federation regularly organizes a congress at which each National Bridge organization may send one delegate. The Congress shall meet every two years at the Olympics and the World Championships team. The WBF is headed by an Executive Council, which is assisted by the various Komiteen and consultants in his meetings.