The most popular sport in Botswana is football, closely followed by cricket and rugby. However additionally, and maybe surprisingly, many people in Botswana are also dedicated to the learning and playing of the card game bridge!

In October 2007, the Botswana Bridge Federation contacted the EBU’s Education Department manager, John Pain and asked him to visit Botswana and teach their bridge teachers and tournament directors. Such a unique opportunity was not to be missed and John started a full week of teaching on 19 May 2008 in Botswana.

Bridge was first played in Botswana thirty years ago, but it was the 1980’s when the game really took off with many British expatriate school teachers teaching bridge in Botswana’s Secondary Schools. They were not qualified “bridge teachers”; simply enthusiasts who wanted to pass on their own passion to another and younger generation. The result was the foundation of the Botswana Bridge Federation (BBF) in 1988 and so the official organiser of tournaments for the pupils to play in.

Since then bridge has continued to be popular in the country and is a fixture of many people’s lives, for example the BBF can currently boast over 800 members. At its peak there can be as many as 600 children playing bridge – something which is unique in Africa.

In England, bridge continues to be one of the most enduring and popular games with people from all walks of life being fascinated by the game. Over the last decade and in order to promote the game to non players, the English Bridge Union has developed a bridge teaching programme called Bridge For All, which provides user-friendly course material and effective methods for bridge teachers. Additionally the EBU conducts a very successful Tournament Director’s course and boasts over a thousand graduates.