27. janúar 2011, Reykjavík

Dear participants and guests,

It is my pleasure to say a few words at the opening of this “Iceland express Reykjavík Bridge Festival” 2011.

The Icelandic Bridge Federation has held similar bridge festivals since 1982. That year a total of 36 pairs and 6 teams participated. This festival has been growing ever since and has become a well known regular event on the bridge scene, taking place in the middle of winter.

Bridge is a well known sport in Iceland and we say with some emphasis and pride that Icelanders are good in mind games. Bridge is the only group sport were Iceland has become a World Champion. We received the Bermuda Bowl in Japan in 1991 and we are looking forward to participating again in Holland in October this year and trying to win this title again, against some very talented opponents from all over the world.

The Icelandic Bridge Federation plays an active role in our community in order to introduce bridge. The federation is now offering its help to teach Bridge in schools all around Iceland and hopefully we will see some of the students become active participants in festivals like this in the future. I'm certain that learning bridge is a very good part of the general education of young people, as it will train their minds and make them more adapt at complicated tasks in the future.

Dear guests,

We are glad to see you all, and hope that you will have a pleasant stay here in Iceland. I wish you all the best in the coming days of hard competition, playing against the best of your peers; I hope this will be an exciting as well as enjoyable tournament, and that you will take fond memories from Iceland away with you when you leave.

I will now open the Iceland Express Reykjavík Bridge Festival 2011 with the first play/bid.