André Gagnaux
Encyclopedia
André Gagnaux who was a Swiss, was the first President of the World Confederation of Billiard Sports
(WCBS) and the former President of the Union Mondiale de Billard
(UMB).
He was credited for the foundation of WCBS in 1992, when he first tried to contact various governing body of billiards sports since 1985 in order to fulfill the recognition criteria of the International Olympic Committee
(IOC), that a recognized sport must be governed by only one international sport federation. After various discussion with the World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association
(WPBSA). At last, he called for a meeting on August 30, 1990, in Bristol
, UK, with the presence of all the three major cue sports representatives, namely, carom, pool and snooker. As a result it was decided to form the World Confederation of Billiard Sports (WCBS), an umbrella organization encompassing all billiards sports, and a three-man committee consisting of Gagnaux himself for Carom, Jorgen Sandman for Pool and Mark Wildman
for Snooker was appointed in order to work out the first constitution, to serve as a guideline for this new body. The following 18 months were spent on this work, which was somewhat complicated since the idea was to enable the various disciplines to work closely together, while maintaining their independence.
The inaugural General Assembly of the WCBS was held in Yverdon-les-Bains
, Switzerland
, on January 25, 1992. Gagnaux was elected to be the first President of the confederation, an office he carried until 1996. He took ill during the second half of 1995, at which time he passed on his immediate tasks to Jorgen Sandman who took over as President in January 1996, just one month before he died.
World Confederation of Billiard Sports
The World Confederation of Billiard Sports is the international umbrella organization encompassing the major cue sports , including carom billiards, pool games of several varieties, and snooker. The confederation is relatively new, having been founded in 1992...
(WCBS) and the former President of the Union Mondiale de Billard
Union Mondiale de Billard
The Union Mondiale de Billard is the world governing body for carom billiard games. The organization was founded in Madrid, Spain on 1 June 1959, and is dedicated to promoting the modern carom billiards games...
(UMB).
He was credited for the foundation of WCBS in 1992, when he first tried to contact various governing body of billiards sports since 1985 in order to fulfill the recognition criteria of the International Olympic Committee
International Olympic Committee
The International Olympic Committee is an international corporation based in Lausanne, Switzerland, created by Pierre de Coubertin on 23 June 1894 with Demetrios Vikelas as its first president...
(IOC), that a recognized sport must be governed by only one international sport federation. After various discussion with the World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association
World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association
The World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association, often abbreviated to the WPBSA, founded in 1968 and based in Bristol, England, United Kingdom is the governing body of professional snooker and English billiards...
(WPBSA). At last, he called for a meeting on August 30, 1990, in Bristol
Bristol
Bristol is a city, unitary authority area and ceremonial county in South West England, with an estimated population of 433,100 for the unitary authority in 2009, and a surrounding Larger Urban Zone with an estimated 1,070,000 residents in 2007...
, UK, with the presence of all the three major cue sports representatives, namely, carom, pool and snooker. As a result it was decided to form the World Confederation of Billiard Sports (WCBS), an umbrella organization encompassing all billiards sports, and a three-man committee consisting of Gagnaux himself for Carom, Jorgen Sandman for Pool and Mark Wildman
Mark Wildman
Mark Wildman is an English snooker and pool commentator, and a retired professional player of snooker and English billiards...
for Snooker was appointed in order to work out the first constitution, to serve as a guideline for this new body. The following 18 months were spent on this work, which was somewhat complicated since the idea was to enable the various disciplines to work closely together, while maintaining their independence.
The inaugural General Assembly of the WCBS was held in Yverdon-les-Bains
Yverdon-les-Bains
Yverdon-les-Bains is a municipality in the district of Jura-Nord vaudois of the canton of Vaud in Switzerland. It is the seat of the district...
, Switzerland
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
, on January 25, 1992. Gagnaux was elected to be the first President of the confederation, an office he carried until 1996. He took ill during the second half of 1995, at which time he passed on his immediate tasks to Jorgen Sandman who took over as President in January 1996, just one month before he died.