the door and then constantly supporting and improving the teaching of bridge to the pupils in the schools. When he left, was elected WBF Chairman Emeritus by acclamation for his extraordinary services to bridge. In 2013 José Damiani was elected as WBF President Emeritus by acclamation. Gianarrigo Rona, from Italy, former First Vice-President and EBL President (1999-2010) was elected president in São Paulo September 2009 and took the chair in November 2010. He was re-elected in Bali in 2013. Zonal Organizations & NBOs Regions of Members 103 Countries in 8 Zones (Updated at 31 March 2022): http://www.worldbridge.org/bridge-zones/qzone1/ http://www.worldbridge.org/bridge-zones/qzone2/ http://www.worldbridge.org/bridge-zones/qzone3/ http://www.worldbridge.org/bridge-zones/qzone4/ http://www.worldbridge.org/bridge-zones/qzone5/ http://www.worldbridge.org/bridge-zones/qzone6/ http://www.worldbridge.org/bridge-zones/qzone7/ http://www.worldbridge.org/bridge-zones/qzone8/ For purposes of administration and furtherance of its objectives and to comply with the International Olympic Committee's principles of the five IOC rings, the WBF structure is divided into five geographical Continental Conferences identical to the IOC's five rings. For organizational reasons the WBF established zones within any of the five Continents which, although part of a Continent, shall be entitled to have at least one member on the Executive and berths in WBF tournaments set forth in Article 9 of the By-Laws. Each zone has its own Zonal Conference of its member NBOs, organizing, managing and administrating its activity and conducting both its own zonal competitions and those delegated to it by the WBF. The 8 Zonal Conferences are in June 2021: Zone 1: Europe - European Bridge League (EBL) - Founded in 1947 at Copenhagen - 46 Countries Zone 2: North America - North American Bridge Federation (NABF) - Founded in 2018 at New York City - 3 Countries Zone 3: South America - South American Bridge Federation / Confederación Sudamericana de Bridge (CSB) - Founded in 1958 at Buenos Aires - 10 Countries Zone 4: Asia and Middle East - Bridge Federation of Asia & the Middle East (BFAME) - Founded in 1979 at Amman - 10 Countries Zone 5: Central America and Caribbean - Central American & Caribbean Bridge Federation (CAC) - Founded in 1979 at Barbados - 13 Countries Zone 6: Asia Pacific - Asia Pacific Bridge Federation (APBF) - Founded in 1957 at Bangkok - 12 Countries Zone 7: South Pacific - South Pacific Bridge Federation (SPBF) - Founded in 1979 at Palmerston North - 2 Countries Zone 8: Africa - African Bridge Federation (ABF) - Founded in 2000 at Cairo - 8 Countries The WBF has shown strong and