CAÏRO - The president of UMB, the world federation for carom billiards, Mr. Farouk El Barki, has also been elected president of the WCBS, the umbrella organization of carom, snooker and pool billiards, for the next four years. The Egyptian is the successor of Ian Anderson, who was president for the past four years and has been elected vice president for the next four years, together with Mubarak Al Khayarin. Diane Wild and Fernando Requena of the UMB are also part of the WCBS board for the next four years.
The election was held during the World Games in Birmingham, which concluded last week at the Alabama venue.
Farouk Barki commented after his appointment at the General Assembly of the World Confederation of Billiard Sports (WCBS): ''I sincerely thank Ian Anderson and the rest of the board for their incredible work during their tenure.'' Barki is looking forward to continuing the good work and working hard for the next development of the sport of billiards around the world.
The new president, who was elected unanimously, has launched among other things, a new project of WCBS. "We are organizing the WCBS Championship for the three disciplines of our sport in Ankara, Turkey, for the first time. The event is planned to return every year.'' The first tournament will be from 20-23 July in 2023.
The World Confederation of Billiards Sports has 135 affiliated national federations, as well as continental bodies for Africa, America, Asia and Oceania. WCBS itself is affiliated to many international sports organisations, including the International Olympic Committee (IOC), the General Association of International Sports Federations, International World Games Association and the Commonwealth Games Federation.
The primary goal of WCBS is to establish billiard sports as medal events in as many sports competitions as possible, both at regional and world level. The ultimate goal of WCBS is to include billiard sports in the Olympic Games.
The board that was installed during the World Games and appointed for the next four years is as follows:
Chairman/President: Mr. Farouk El Barki
Ms. Diane Wild, Secretary-General and Treasurer
Board members:
Mr. Ian Anderson, Vice Chairman
Mr. Mubarak Al Khayarin, Vice Chairman
Mr. Fernando Requena, media director
Mr. James Leacy, Board member
Mr. Michael Al Khoury, sports director
Mr Shane Tyree, board member
The entire WCBS board, left to right: Shane Tyree, Fernando Requena, Ian Anderson, Farouk El Barki, Diane Wild, Michael Al Khoury, Mubarak Al Khayarin.