World Mind Sport Games
From 3 October until 18 October 3000 Mind sportsman and sportswoman from Bridge, Normal and Chinese Chess, Go and draughts will struggle for the highest honor. The FMJD consider these games as the most important event for years. Such a splendid opportunity to promote draughts all over the world is unique. It is an essential step in the process to become Olympic sport and the recognition by the IOC. Within 20 years the IMSA wants to be with all the mind sports member of the Olympic family. Draughts will be present with as many people, as many countries, with the strongest players and with all three sections: 100, 64 and Checkers. All living world champions are invited.
The International Mind Sport
Association tries for over three years to convince the Chinese
authorities, that this games have to be hold. Now on the highest level of the
Chinese government is decided, that the games will be there. The mind sports
don't have the choice to stay home anymore. In the buildings of the Olympic
Games we are welcomed. The organization in Beijing takes care of the stay.
Participants will be brought from and to the airport. In the mean time they will
be special guests of China. Beijing is one of the greatest cities in the world
and capital of the biggest country. The Big Wall, the Imperial Palaces and the
Tiananmen Square are just around the corner. Such a chance to visit this
fascinating city is once of lifetime. A lot of Peoples have asked to play there. It is the intension of the FMJD to
let them do all.
A dream of the president for life, Wouter van Beek and tournaments
director Henri Macaux is to get as many French speaking countries from Africa in
Beijing as possible. In this continent there are millions of people mastering
the game at a very high level. The IMSA wants to have as many
as possible countries in Beijing too including the African countries. We are the
only mind sport that is practiced often there. The FMJD wants to help these countries with a
financial support in the travel costs.
Last week a letter is send in the three working languages
French,
Russian and
English to ask
the federations for an official delegation. We want to be there with
at least 200 people. Most of them will come from the official delegations. Delegations pay
minimal subscriptions fees and can expect support with the travel. But there
will be more places available. We ask candidates for these tickets (30-40) to
step forwards to the Office of the FMJD.
These participants have to pay 200 euro subscription fee and to arrange the
travel themselves. The Chinese Airways considers to send planes to the big
European Capitals like Paris, Berlin, London and Amsterdam to take participants
to China. Besides there are a number of travel agencies, that organize trips to
Beijing all the time.
The event isn't intended to be a real open tournament. We want to have as many delegations as possible. Registrations of national federations take priority. Delegations pay the subscriptions fees of the IMSA only (50 dollar pp). Travel costs of African countries will be sponsored. World champions are special guests of the organization. All the other participants have to pay their travel themselves and to pay the subscriptions fee of 200 euro. The number of extra places isn't known in advance. The first 30 registrations are for sure. For extra tickets depends on the IMSA and the numbers from the federations. First registration take priority.
We expect to have enough places. Participants will be transported from and to the airport. The stay will be almost for free. There are 3000 beds from the Olympic games available. Unknown is if the participants have to pay for the food. Spectators and family have to pay their stay, food and travel themselves. In the near surrounding there are two hotels with rooms for 80-100 dollars a day. Besides travels can be arranged by normal travel agencies. Family can participate in the normal excursion program as they like to, whilst the participants are in the playing room.
The event contains several tournaments. There are tournaments for male/female 64, male/female 100 and male Checkers. In the second week besides the finales there will be a rapid tournament for 100 squares. Everyone present is welcome for this Swiss Tournament. A blitz tournament is considered, but still there aren't medals for. The China Airways consider some extra flights on Amsterdam, Paris, Berlin and London. The conditions for these are still unknown.
The 100 squares organize in the first week preliminaries (10 rounds) with the Swiss system. In the second week there is a barrage of the first eight players for the medals. The time table of the preliminaries (7 days) makes it amateurs possible to be there only one week (see time table). We are special interested in the people whose wants to be there. So we can make proper arrangements with the Chinese organizers. Until the 200 euro subscriptions fees is paid nothing is definitively. Spectators/family has to arrange the stay themselves and don't have to pay anything to the organization.
