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In July 2011, the Italian Bridge Federation (FIGB) has been put under a commissioner by CONI (Italian Olympic Sports Committee) because of administrative faults. Elections to nominate a new committee will take place on the 7th of July. These days the candidates are writing the electoral programs and choosing the committee members. Following Giuseppe Failla, also Ghigo Ferrari wrote us:
“Dear Neapolitan Club editorial staff, I take advantage of your helpfulness and attach my electoral program and CV, which are from now available on the website: http://www.ghigoferrari.it/, where you can post your comments. I thought opening a website was a good idea, with an eye to those who do not know or like Facebook.Thank you and good luck.”
It is our pleasure to spread all useful news about the candidates to the FIGB committee and we recall that we are available to publish all candidates’ electoral programs, as we hope to have a fair and transparent election process, in the interest of our readers and all players.
Federigo “Ghigo” Ferrari Castellani is 61 and lives in Milan, where he manages his family’s business. He is known both in national and international bridge: He held important roles both in the FIGB and EBL (European Bridge League), his achievements as sport manager have been acknowledged by CONI, which in 2008 gave him the Bronze Star for sport merit.
Here you can read a summary of his electoral program:
Federigo “Ghigo” Ferrari Castellani
Curriculum
Bridge has been part of my life for 40 years. I am 61 and I live in Milan, I am a professional businessman. My business, opened by my granfather in 1904, deals with transports. I helped my father with the business since I was young, and I took over in 1988. I started playing bridge when I was 16 (my parents were both players) and I achieved a few results as a junior both in pairs and teams competitions. I became a federal Tournament Director at the age of 22. I then became Chief Tournament Director. Since 1979 I have been a committee member and then president of the “Nerazzurro” bridge club in Milan. From 1984 to 1988 I have been Director of Federal Championships. From 1989 to 1992 I have been National Advisor. From 1993 to 2000 I became Operative Chief. This role consists in supporting the National Secretary for what does not concern office matters. I have been the only one so far playing this role, as it does not exist in the federal structure now. From 2001 to 2004 I have been National Advisor. From 2005 I have been given the title of “Meritorious Person of the Federation” by the National Assembly. From 2005 to 2010 I have been President of Lombardy and from 2005 to 2008 I have been president of the Tournament Directors department. In 2008 I have been given by CONI the “Bronze Star for sport merit”, for my activity as a sport manager. In 2009 I was a member of the CONI Lombardy Local Council, as a representative of DSA. From 2009 to 2010 CONI named me committee member to represent the DSA. In the international field, I have played many different roles between 1997 to 2007 .
Program
1) Bridge development: the number of registered players decreases every year and the main aim of the federation should be to make the game more popular.
2) Young players: they should be encouraged to play bridge, through more teaching activities and discounts on fees.
3) Teaching department: the “Bridge at school” and “Bridge School” projects have to be improved, by making it easier for new players to learn the basics and creating a database of shared documents.
4) Relationship with clubs: clubs should be supported from an economical point of view. A new structure should be developed to give clubs some contribution every year depending on which activities they run.
5) Rules: they have to be observed. Certainty that rules are applied is the base for a healthy Federation.
6) Championships: they have to be cheaper. There should be qualification rounds, that take place in various regions, and then a final competition, with a small number of players.
7) Ranks and points: the present system has to be revised. Points should be assigned taking into account where they have been won.
8 ) Local Committees: they are very important because they know the local issues best. The Assembly of Local Presidents should become a part of the Federation, in order to make sure the Federation can help the Local Committees more efficiently.
9) Tournament Directors: we should be more aware of the difference between local clubs tournaments and championships. Even though the rules are the same, the approach should take such differences into account.
10) Relationship with CONI: the aim should be to become an “Acknowledged Discipline” and not only an “Associated Discipline”” as we are just now, because this can improve the economical support from CONI.
11) Technology: the Federation website should be improved and contain more information
12) Relationship with EBL and WBF: I will take care of the relationship with these bodies, which has on the contrary been neglected in the past years.
Federigo Ferrari Castellani
Read Full Program in Ghigo Ferrari’s site >>
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English edition by Laura Cecilia Porro for Neapolitan Club
April 5, 2012