Dear shogi friends,

I will give you five good reasons to register now for the ESC/WOSC=20 2003:

1) For the first time ever, the ESC/WOSC will be played in Sweden, = which=20 has the biggest European national shogi federation. Once upon a = time, shogi=20 in Europe was very limited. Previously, the ESC has been arranged seven = times in=20 Belgium, five times in the Netherlands, five times in England, and once = in=20 Germany. All those events were very good. But for the first time, the = ESC is now=20 leaving those core nations, and FESA will start spreading the ESC/WOSC. = In the=20 future, the ESC/WOSC will be arranged sometimes in the old core=20 nations and sometimes in the new FESA nations in Northern, = Southern,=20 Central, and Eastern Europe. That means that the European shogi players = and the=20 visitors from other continents will be able to see new places in Europe, = a=20 continent that will prove to be much bigger than the old core nations. = Welcome=20 to the future of European shogi!

2) Right now, the beds at the youth hostel are being booked by = shogi=20 players and their families. The beds will be distributed on a first = book,=20 first served basis. That will be the best and most inexpensive lodging = during=20 the event. Go to bed and wake up in the middle of the ESC/WOSC and do = not lose a=20 minute to unnecessary and tiring commuting.

3) Until July 10, the price for registration is 100 SEK. After = that, it=20 will be 250 SEK.

4) After July 10, we will have to tell the restaurant at Nimbus how = many=20 meal packages that we want. We do not dare to book too many extra, so if = you=20 want to eat at the venue, book your meal package now.

5) After the tournament, a travel reimbursement will be paid back = to the=20 players. It is impossible now to tell the amount, but it was not offered = in=20 2002, so there is now some extra money in the pot to be distributed = among the=20 participants.

In summer time, it is time to visit Sweden. From August 7 until = August 10,=20 the European Blitz Shogi Championship, the 19th European Shogi = Championship, and=20 the 5th Worldwide Open Shogi Championships will be organised = at Ockero,=20 near Goteborg, Sweden. Along the west coast of Sweden, you will be able = to=20 experience seaside activities on smooth rocks and sandy beaches. In the = late=20 evenings, one of the most beautiful scenes of Europe can be watched as = the sun=20 sets slowly at the west horizon and lits up a red glowing = street along=20 the ocean. The ESC/WOSC 2003 will be played in a fresh and modern = building at=20 the seaside. You will be able to stay at the youth hostel in the same = conference=20 center. There is also a restaurant, where breakfast, lunch, and dinner = is=20 served. You may find information about the event here:

http://www.shogi.net/fesa/

There is one error in the text. There are 13 four men rooms at the = youth=20 hostel. That makes it 52 beds in total. Now, it is time to = register, since=20 the youth hostel is just now getting booked by shogi players and their = families.=20 Please register with your national FESA representative according to the=20 information at the bottom of the page. Give your name, arrival date, = departure=20 date, participation in the blitz tournament, choice of youth hostel (400 = SEK per=20 bed for three nights) and nine meals (600 SEK). Those packages have to = be=20 accepted completely or not at all. Albrecht Heeffer has started up his = nice and=20 traditional page with all registered players. It will be continously=20 updated.

http://www.shogi= .net/fesa/esc2003/participants/

There is also a special service, necessary for the Dutch players, = where one=20 can book by sending the money in advance to a bank account, owned by the = FESA=20 treasurer Carl Johan Nilsson. The Dutch Shogi Federation only considers = those=20 who have paid to that account as registered or as having booked rooms = etc. It=20 can also be used by participants from other nations.

Bic code: ESSESESS

IBAN: SE4750000000050013071963

Receiver: Carl Johan Nilsson

Thus, FESA will also only consider Dutch persons who have sent = money to the=20 account as registered. For participants from other nations, the national = organisations will guarantee the participation of their members.

Confirmations will be sent to those who will get a bed at the youth = hostel.=20 Information will be sent out directly as soon as the youth hostel is = fully=20 booked. Then there are other alternatives available. Except for those in = the=20 link above, we have another hotel offer:

The Swedish Shogi Federation has negotiated good prices at a new = hotel. It=20 is situated at Hisingen (a part of Goteborg), from where Ockero can be = reached=20 by bus. If you are interested in staying at the hotel, please send an = e-mail to=20

hotmail com">sveriges_shogiforbund@h= otmail.com

and I will make a reservation for you, so you will get the = favourable=20 price. Just tell me

1) arrival date

2) departure date

3) single or double room

The hotel is Quality Hotel Winn, Gamla Tingstadsgatan 1. The prices = are:

Single room: 770 SEK per night (84 Euro)

Double room: 870 SEK per night (94 Euro)

The prices include breakfast and all taxes. The surroundings of = this=20 hotel are not exceptionally beautiful, but you will have the = chance of=20 staying in a hotel room, where once the shogi professionals Mr Aono, Mr = Maeda,=20 or Ms Ajiki stayed.

Welcome to Sweden!

Martin Danerud

President of FESA