Report of the President over 2001 – 2003

[Managing Board]

Report of the President over 2001 – 2003


1. Draughts among the international sports

The major issue on the international scene has been the GAISF membership of the FMJD first as provisional member in 1999 and now as full and voting member in 2002. I traveled to the GAISF congresses in Monaco, Singapore, Colorado Springs and Madrid to network and secure our membership. Contacts have been made with the various multi-sports games, such as World Games, Continental Games, Master Games and others, which will have to be effectuated after May 2003.
An organizational change in international sports has been the IOC and the GAISF growing towards each other, resulting in a major international Sports Convention “Sportaccord�, housing the 37th GAISF General Assembly, and the meetings of IOC, IOWG, IOSG, IORF (resp. Winter-, Summer Games and Recognized Federations).
In the start of 2003 the FMJD, after having received the go-ahead in November 2002, submitted its file for being recognized by the IOC as the representative sports federation. This is still in process.


2. Representation

I represented the FMJD in the above-mentioned congresses, plus in several general sports congresses: the WADA (doping) congress in 2001, the Sports for All congress in 2002, and in the NCDO Platform for Sports and Development in its regular meetings. In all the latter congresses I gave a presentation on the situation in the mind sports in general and draughts in particular. I represented the FMJD at the twice yearly meetings of international sports officials in the Netherlands, and at some sport galas. I stayed in contact with the FIDE, WBF and IGF throughout the period, though that contact was less intense during their (lost) Olympic bid.


3. Meetings

I hosted and chaired all CD meetings in the period under report, 4 times a year (see minutes). Our venue changed from the DAK in Huissen, to a new venue in Maarsbergen, with occasional meetings at event venues.
In the fall of 2002 I hosted a meeting with the FMJD, KNDB and all organizers of open tournaments in the Netherlands. The overlap of the Summer tournaments and the Challenge Mondial in Yakutsk had provoked severe reactions for the latter parties. We did come to a productive agreement (see Calendar 100 sq.)
In Summer 2002 and in March 2003 I met at the Russian ministry of Sports with the representatives of the Russian Draughts Federation (RDF) and the Russian Federation for International Draughts (FID). At the last session a protocol was drafted and signed which is included in the Assembly documentation.


4. New sections and federations

With the help of John Reade and Leo Springer the section Checkers has gradually been filled out. With Springer I organized a “Tri Combo tournament�, featuring the three major disciplines, during the American Checkers Federation championships in Las Vegas, USA. This also proved a good opportunity to convince the Americans of the advantages of joining the FMJD. New federations joining are Wales, India, Australia, Barbados.

5. Correspondence

A massive correspondence has been entertained with all continents, new federations, and the organizers of draughts events. The majority of it has become e-mail, and the office (Johan Bastiaannet) has bore the brunt of it.


6. Visits abroad

In the period under scrutiny (Huissen 2001 – Zwartsluis 2003) I visited Moscow twice (to speak about the double Russian FMJD membership) in order to converse with the Minister of Sport of Russia. In Kiev I met the Ukrainian Minister of Sport, while visiting the Section 64 Assembly. My visit of 2001 to Cameroon was cancelled due to a car accident, but in February of 2003 I visited the ministries of sport in Cameroon, Tchad and Ethiopia. In 2002, with the South African Draughts representatives, I met in Pretoria at the Ministry of Sport.
I gave several radio and TV interviews in Holland, Yakutsk, Bila Tserkva and South Africa. I paid visits to the world championships of girls and juniors (Parthenay 2001), the Junior 64 World Championship (Ukraine), Russian RIDF team championship (near Moscow 2001), Challenge Mondial (Yakutsk 2002), Dutch championships of 2001 and 2002, ACF championship (Las Vegas 2002), South African Youth Championship (Johannesburg 2002), Junior World Championship (Alphen a/d Rijn), the World Record Performance of Ton Sijbrands in December 2002, and several other events, like open tournaments. Finally I visited the matches for the World Championship and World Championship women in Ufa, Bashkortostan, Russian Republic, and the FID youth championship held at the same venue.

I also published a memorial draughts volume for Jan Bom, with Ton Sijbrands.


Dr. Wouter E.A. van Beek
President FMJD

[Jacques PERMAL]

It isn't easy to do this job when you are unpaid. The balance is good.
I hope that our President recovered from his car accident !!