N°50 • JUNE 2024

One innovation that the WBF is keen to adopt was that the screens displayed the time remaining for the completion of play, while indicating the number of boards that should have been completed. The finals were broadcast live on TV and the prize-giving ceremony was choreographed to the smallest detail. It was noteworthy that all the medallists wore team uniforms.
Hong Kong won the gold medal in the Men’s Teams, while China took the Women’s event and Chinese Taipei the Mixed Teams. It may prove to be significant that Japan (who will host the games in Aichi-Nagoya 2026) took the bronze medals in the Men’s Teams, perhaps increasing the possibility that bridge will be retained as one of the Mind Sports.
The Closing Ceremony of the games was spectacular, rivalling that of the Olympic Games.
The World Bridge Federation is lobbying for bridge to be included in the 2026 games, and they can expect strong support from the competitors in 2023, Bangladesh, China, Chinese Taipei, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Japan, Pakistan, Philippines, Singapore, South Korea and Thailand.
Bridge players from around the world can play their part by emailing the IOC at pressoffice.olympic.org requesting that bridge be included in the 2026 Asian Games.

Number 50 – Monthly – June 2024 – Director of publication Olivier Comte – Publisher Éditions de Presse Spécialisée Le Bridgeur – 33 avenue Emile Zola, 92100 Boulogne Billancourt  – France – Executive Director Karine Meyer-Naudan – Editorial Committee Michel Bessis – Muriel Clément – Philippe Cronier – Mark Horton – Vincent Labbé – Norbert Lébely – Karine Meyer-Naudan – Assistant Editor-in Chief Vincent Labbé – Editorial Secretary Muriel Clément – Adverts Bridgerama+ Muriel Clément 01 42 96 25 50  – Subscriptions 01 42 96 25 50 – Art Director Isabelle Le Squer-Fontaine/Maya – mayatom@me.com – Translation Monika Kummel – Legal Deposit june 2024, N°7.680 – Joint Committee – 1118 K 85690 – ISSN 0184-8127.