CongressNews No. 2
People were satisfied at eight o’clock when Gionata Soletti started the ceremony. He had prepared an excellent speech but his staff displaced it. So Gionata told the audience the history of the growing up of this Congress in Italy, from the idea to hold this congress first introduced eight years ago in Hamburg up to this opening ceremony.
After this Luciano Ghelli, president of the Federatione Italiana Giuocio Go, welcomed the participants of the Congress. He thanked sponsors and the major of Abano Terme for their support. Mr. Yukutaka Sonoyama, EVP and Director of Hitachi, the main sponsor, emphasized that this Go Congress is an event were people from all parts of Europe could meet and play Go in a friendly atmosphere.
After this, Alan Held, president of the EGF gave a short review of the success of the European players in the latest World Championships. Due to an organisation problem (his glass wasn’t filled up) he couldn’t close the opening ceremony with his traditional “KAMPAI!”. But his Finish assistant Matti Siivola helped out. After this the participants met at the bar for free drinks and snacks, talked to old and new Go friends and some enthusiastic ones started the first games…
 |
 |
 |