AFRICA-EUROPE
AFRICA-EUROPE
The Government of Burkina Faso has signed the documents ensuring the organisation of the planned match Africa – Europe. The dates are set now – as indicated earlier – on
12 July 2004 – 27 July 2004. Venue: Ouagadougou
The European participants, plus the Africans coming from Europe, will all travel together on Monday 12 July, at 14.10 h. from Brussel, Zaventhem. Return Wednesday 28/7 11.00 h. in Brussels.
We will be housed in Hotel Palm Beach, a 4* hotel in the capital of Ouagadougou. Extensive press coverage and the enthusiastic reception by the Burkinabe government and officials are guaranteed.
The format is as proposed earlier: 12 Europeans will play against 12 Africans, each player meeting all players of the other team.
In the mean time the Draughts Federation of Burkina Faso has been officially organized and has applied for FMJD membership. Mr. Pascal Tigahire is the president. The FBJD has already organised one major tournament, the championship of Ouagadougou (the capital) – for results see FMJD website – and will start in a few days with the national championship of Burkina Faso.
From 5-10 June mr Tigahire and Mamina Ndiaye will be in Europe to make further preparations, and are available for questions. They will take a video with them with sights of Burkina, Ouagadougou and the hotel.
Financial details: prize money total Euro 3000,=; some pocket money (E. 100) for each participant. Plus special prizes for best win, combination and end game.
Information:
Burkina Faso (“Land of the Wise Men”) is a typical Sahel country, with a sympathetic African capital, Ougadougou. It houses many ethnic groups, the Mossi being dominant around the capital. For those traveling with the players some excursions will be organised. For those players who want to stay on after the match, and excursion to the UNESCO world cultural heritage site of the Dogon cliff in Mali can be organised on demand (on 280 km. From Ouagadougou). I will take care of that one for a limited number. In that case a visa for Mali is needed.
All Europeans need a visa for Burkina Faso; if they make the excursion after the match to Mali, they need a multiple entry visa.
Vaccination for yellow fever are needed, as well as malaria prophylaxis. A cholera stamp (no vaccination) is recommended. Consult the website of Burkina for details.
Money: all living expenses will be paid by Burkina organisation. The money in BF is the Franc CFA, which is 1/660 of an Euro, a fixed rate. Euro bills are perfectly acceptable and easy to change; there is no reason to try to change in advance. Dollars are also welcome, but the Euro is guaranteed with a fixed, non-negotiable rate.
Credit cards are reasonably accepted in banks and hotels, not in shops.
Telephone and internet connections work quite well at the moment. One does not need a photo permit: the country is keen on having visitors. The official and market language is French.
The hotel chosen is excellent, has large rooms, air conditioning and a good swimming pool. Food in BF is French style, with some excellent restaurants plus a large number of cheap ones.
The climate is warm but not too hot. July is the rainy season, which in the Sahel is quite like a hot – dry - summer in Western Europe: sunny weather, temperatures just above 30 C, with an occasional shower (or thunderstorm) to cool things down, and give variation in humidity and render the city less dusty.
Clothing advice:
Take light, easy to dry clothing. Long cotton trousers, long sleeved shirts are needed when walking in the city. Take some t-shirts and shorts also, and sandals. The airline allows 30 kg. On board luggage, more than you need.
Wouter E.A. van Beek
Président Délégué de la Confédération Africaine du Jeu de Dames
Dr. Janis Lelis - EDC vice president
jlelis@com.latnet.lv
Match Africa - Europe European TEAM
Referee Henri Macaux
EUROPE
1.
France - Laurent Nicault - has confirmed
2. Germany - Rafail Zdoroveac - has confirmed
3. Italy - Raoul Bubbi - has confirmed
4. Belgium - Ronald Schalley - has confirmed
5. Poland - Miroslaw Kobylinski - has confirmed
6. Russia - Anatoly Petuhov - has confirmed
7. Ukraine -Olga Baltazhy - has confirmed
8. Russia - Vjacheslav Schegolev - has confirmed
9. Holland - Kees Thijssen - has confirmed
10.Lithuania - Liosha Domches - has confirmed
11.Latvia -
Laimonis
Zalitis - has confirmed
12. Estonia - Kaido Leesmann - has confirmed
Holland - Auke Scholma reserves
Holland - Nina Hoekman reserves
EDC representative Vicepresident Dr. Janis Lelis
Players which has refused
1. Russia - A.Schwarzmann
2. Ukraine - Elena Pestunova
3. Holland - Tanya Chub
4. Russia - Aleksej Mironov
5. Switzerland
6. Latvia - Guntis Valneris
7. Estonia - Urmo Ilves
