This sporting season will draw to a close after these World Championships in Thailand, and in my view, it will be memorable in more ways than one.

Indeed, we have many reasons to be satisfied.

Before going into the list of the various points that have been recorded in 2007, I must tell you how much I have enjoyed working with the new team set up by you in Amman last year.

What a change compared to what I experienced in the past!

Indeed, in working with the Executive Board, I have always been greatly assisted in my role as President, and there was no shortage of topics on which we were happy to work together and share our views and experiences.

All of our meetings took place in a most cheerful atmosphere and with a constant concern for efficiency – made all the more pleasant by the contrast with previous years.

The Board held proper discussions and made realistic plans that were very successful - all of which goes to confirm the team’s overall value, and I would like to thank you once again for the confidence you showed in us by electing the Board at our last AGM in Jordan.

Please allow me, at this point, to thank wholeheartedly all of the Board members for their availability and commitment, and of the high value friendship that we have all enjoyed.

Particular mention must be made of the General Secretary, Mohammed el Kammah, my friend - and, I should say, my accomplice – who every day and sometimes even at night, always listens to me and has done some excellent work as the newcomer to such a difficult position on the Board.

I dream of an ambitious, all-conquering IBSF, and I am certain that we are on the right path to achieving that.

It will not have escaped your notice, that the most important event in the history of the IBSF took shape this year with the adoption of IBSF Templates in conjunction with Wiraka.

What may strike you as normal or ordinary, is in reality the fruit of several years work in securing on the one hand, a consensus on the standard to be adopted by the IBSF in relation to table pockets for all competitions - and on the other hand, the services of a company able to produce and manufacture them at a reasonable price.

The deed is now done, and the first sets of templates have already been delivered.

Whatever the country, each player will now have the certainty of playing snooker under the same conditions as in a World Championships! Such harmony can only contribute to making our Federation stronger.

The project was completed within the scope of the renewed contract binding the IBSF to Wiraka, and the report from the Committee in charge of sponsoring will explain how the IBSF has already taken a step towards the acknowledgement of its logo as a mark of quality and reliability.

Another reason for satisfaction is the fact that for the first time since I was elected in 2004, 2007 was a year in which all IBSF competitions were organised and held.

After 2005 the year of the Grand Prix in Wales, 2006 and the lack of applications for the U21 Championships, 2007 saw the IBSF hold 5 World Championships and – for the first time in its history – a competition dedicated to women’s U21 players.

Additionally, a number of Federations have shown their organisational plans for the Championships for the coming years, and I am delighted to see such renewed enthusiasm. Please accept my thanks.

The IBSF has also had the good fortune to continue growing, and as in every year, has welcomed new members.

Contact with the Pan-American Confederation is continuing, and a group of some 22 countries is set to join our Federation.

Unfortunately, there is little to be satisfied with the following opportunities in 2007.

The CGF chose to include archery over Snooker for the 2010 CG in India and, while I am disappointed by the decision, I also understand it. It is not surprising under the circumstances in light of the very short timeframe in which we had to prepare our application. The submission should be taken in a positive way as an experience rich in learning.

The preparations for the application documents and the meetings with the WPBSA brought us closer together on the one hand and, but on the other hand, showed us how much we would have to work to follow the Olympic criteria as scrupulously as possible.

The Academy that was intended to open at Pontins did not take place, as our partner ended his working relationship with the management at Pontins.

However, this has only been deferred, and other avenues are now being pursued to finalise the possibility for players to enjoy coaching sessions under the most beneficial conditions in 2008.

2007 was a transitional period for the website, marked by personal disappointment in the very necessary decision to cut the ties with Sabry.

I really tried hard to find a solution but his final demands made me feel that I was wasting my time and that it would be impossible to make him listen to reason.

We have however, had the pleasure of finding Adam Wyard, our new webmaster, a person as dedicated as he is passionate, and motivated by the same desire as we all are to do well.

I decided to replace the quarterly newsletter with a blog (www.ibsf-blog.fr), which is more responsive and closer to current events.

At this point, I would like to thank all those who I have asked to check and correct my articles prior to publication.

Finally, at my own expense and out of a spirit of economy, I represented the IBSF everywhere that the opportunity presented itself.

I do regret, however, that after the World Championships in Goa, of not having even for a few days to attend the World Billiards Championships in Singapore.

I went to Ghent in Belgium for the ETC, and Carlow in Ireland for the European Championships and to attend the EBSA’s AGM.

I called a meeting of the WCBS Executive Board in Paris, and accepted the invitation to attend the Pyramid Billiards World Championships in St Petersburg.

I had the privilege – for which I would like to thank the ACBS and its President, Mr Sindhu – to be invited to the Asia Games in Doha and then, more recently, the 2nd Asia Indoor Games in Macau.

Finally, I had the opportunity to attend the Arab Championships in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.

All of those visits were an incredible opportunity for me to represent the IBSF on the one hand, but also strengthen existing ties and to forge new ones with representatives of various Federations and members of the Olympic Committee.

On reading this report, you will see that I remain resolutely optimistic about the IBSF’s future, and more than aware of the wonderful potential of making our Federation a leader in the field of billiard sports – even though the work to be done in achieving such a goal is far from small.