An interview with Gianarrigo Rona, President, World Bridge Federation: Passion keeps him going

Giannarigo Rona

At 75 years, Gianarrigo Rona is hardly ready for a peaceful retired life. This Italian is in fact scarcely at home for travel takes a lot of his time not only as President of the World Bridge Federation but as member of the Italian Olympic Committed and also his involvement in other mind-sport committees. “Earlier when I was practicing in law court, sports activities took a step down but now that I have retired from legal activities, I am fully involved in bridge in the main,” said Mr Rona, who is in the city well in time for the inauguration of the 42nd World Bridge Championship which gets going from September 26.

As a child, the ‘diamond’ and ‘spade’ had attracted him a lot as he held the cards up gleefully. But the urge to take cards seriously took a back seat until his University days for he had another passion, basketball. In a family of bridge players, this was a huge self- restraint, he smiles. But in later life, Rona not only played bridge at the highest level but entered the sport’s administration, first the national body, then the European Association and finally the world body of which he currently is into his second term as the head.

Widely experienced, this tall and genial official looks at bridge in a different way. “I know it is not a spectator-sport, there is hardly anything to catch the eye for the uninitiated. Bridge appeals only to those who follow the sport. But there still is a thrill in the playing ,” he said, while revealing the very many highs that Italy has achieved in this mind-sport both in the men’s and women’s section. In fact, he revealed more women than men played bridge in Italy. With bridge already there in schools in the country, the younger generation is a strong world force in this sport with several laurels to boot.

“In Italy there are other sports like football, tennis etc which gather big sponsorships but bridge brings about increase in commerce,” he argues. He gave an instance of how a major international tournament held in Verona, an Italian city well known for Romeo and Juliet, made a huge success of a different kind. “The large number of players who came propped up local business and the net result, the authorities said, was a gain overall in the conduct of the event,” he said.

On the same lines, Rano felt what needed to be looked into in hosting an event like a World Championship is creating awareness, getting recognition from the local government and seeing the increased opportunities for newcomers to play against some of the best players of the world. “Lets look it that way rather than talk of the cost involved in the conduct of the event, “ he said. He however complimented the Bridge Federation of India for the painstaking effort they had taken in ensuring a success of this venture. “I am seeing their efforts myself,” he said.

The Italian official talked of how internet has made bridge-play easier and in tune with the younger generation’s penchant for the computer. “I know of how two Japanese and two Czech players became friends on internet playing bridge and then teamed up to play in a youth championship in Istanbul and what is more, won that event. So cards can take a back seat and may be internet will begin inspire the younger generation more in the days ahead,” he said.