Thank you very much for your welcome words and also warm thanks to your Hotel for holding this great 10th Anniversary party of “ Bridge for All Tenerife “- bridge para todos - para nuestro decimo Anniversaries!
I remember well when the idea started in spring 2009 with a personal visit to you Bruno at this Hotel together with my good friend from 50 years back in Norway - Ivar Olsøn-Lunde, previous Marketing Manager of the Fred. Olsen Group in the Canaries, and at that time also Norwegian Consul in the Canaries.
You will remember, Bruno, that we presented to you our plans on behalf of the Norwegian Bridge Federation (NBF) for an event for Norwegian bridge players during 3 weeks in January. You supported immediately our concept and then the snowball began to roll on in Norway with advertising and marketing. This was the start of the Tenerife Bridge Festival in January 2010!
During the first event we had already 90 participants, and we played in the Sala Mabel facilities. And view the success of the first event, we decided to make all necessary Agreements to secure the establishment of future regular Bridge Tournaments at your hotel. That was the start of the January Tenerife Bridge Festival that today is celebrating its 10th Anniversary.
The number of participants has increased regularly during these 10 years, mainly thanks to your positive cooperation in providing hotel room space for new players, and not to forget in providing new additional playing area. Initially solved by starting playing inside at your Atlante Leisure Area, but soon, the increased demand required special attention. More allocation for Hotel rooms was provided, supplemented with additional playing space that you kindly arranged on the terrace of the Atlante Area with new roofs, curtains and warming heaters.
In spite of the negative fact that we lately have received some allotment restrictions of rooms in the Hotel, we have succeeded in maintaining a great Tenerife Bridge Festival. Actually, it is the Norwegian Bridge Federation´s largest event outside Norway, and also the second largest NBF event.
During these 10 years, we have secured at your Hotel almost 24,000 nights, achieving gross revenue of more than 1.5 million Euros.
In 2012, we started a new agreement for beginner courses during 2 weeks in November, an event that has now been going on for 7 years. In addition, to these courses we are now also offering Bridge tournaments in november.
Norway is at the top in Europe Bridge, we won the Open European Championship class this summer 2018 while the Women's Team became No. 3 and Seniors Team no. 5. We have had world champions playing here, and present today with us are Jon Egil, NBF's national team manager and Sten, coach for the open team.
I would also like to tell you that Sofie Græsholt Sjødal (16 years old), presently here with us tonight became European Champion in mix pair for class under 26 years, and also won European Championship for ladies together with Agnethe Hansen Kjensli (20 year), also present here tonight.
And now, I would like to hand over the microphone to Astrid Steen Lybæk, Vice President of NBF and also President of Nordic Bridge Union.
And now, I would like to hand over the microphone to Astrid Steen Lybæk, Vice President of NBF and also President of Nordic Bridge Union.