[DJNeill]

Hey,
Every April the best of Italy play in the Spring championships :
the teams this year

Has BBO ever vugraphed this?

Dan

[Walddk]

We have indeed, and only a few days ago I sent an e-mail to Vincenzo Delle Cave, the BBO contact in Italy, about this and a few other events. We haven't had vugraph broadcasts from Italy for quite some time now and I keep getting questions as to why this is.

The sad news is that we are facing the usual operator problem. No-one wants to pay their expenses (and small salaries). BBO's policy is that this is a concern for the organizers because we offer our software for free. In our vugraph guidelines we write:

"All tournaments are welcome to use the BBO software for vugraph purposes. We do not charge a fee for the use of our software (nor do we charge a fee to people who watch our broadcasts), but you will be responsible for all arrangements and expenses."

The FIGB, however, believes that BBO should pay the operators if we want to broadcast from their events.

There is nothing new in this context, but the problem persists. Accordingly, chances are slim as far as Italy is concerned. I can't solve the problem, only Fred and the FIGB can.

Roland

[vincenzo]

What is incredible is that during the championships there were 2 operators (like every year).... but not for BBO Vugraph but for the local rama room using an old software with a dos interface (that was very nice 15 years ago ...) that has nothing to share with BBO interface. I have not been able to convince FIGB to use BBO Vugraph as local Rama room ... so with same operators we have:


1) a better local vugraph with better interface

2) bbo Vugraph

I was in Salsomaggiore playing the championship ... nobody can figure how many phone calls I got asking me ..... why you don't broadcast this event ?

No more words ....

Vincenzo

[Walddk]

Fortunately, the importance of BBO vugraph is appreciated by several other NCBO's. Let me bring Norway forward as an example and highlight the Nordic Championships 2007 (Denmark, Faroe Islands, Finland, Iceland, Norway, Sweden) in early June.

Have a look here ...

http://nordic.bridge.no/modules.php?name=C...=showpage&pid=2

We did not even have to ask the Norwegian organisers. They have assigned two experienced operators for vugraph on BBO throughout, and we won't have to worry about the quality. As we have seen on numerous occasions, the organisation in Norway is second to none.

The NBF is a dedicated BBO supporter; for reasons only known to themselves the FIGB is not. Perhaps we need new faces at the top before we will see the change that without doubt will benefit the Italian members, and as a consequence the rest of the bridge playing world.

It is never too late to see the light. Let's hope that the Italians will pretty soon, because it would be a real shame if some of the best players on this planet are shut out from the best bridge site in the world.

The Italian players don't want that, the Italian members don't want that, and deep down the FIGB doesn't want that either.

Roland