Good morning Go World,

As many of you may know, the tournament of Brussels is coming.

http://www.gofed.be/en/tournament/brussels

This year I was quite suprised that the organisers have decided to punish belgian players who are non member of the Belgian Federation (non member of a European federation or member of an other federation).

I find this quite unfair. I can understand Belgian Federation want to support their own players. A reduction is fee is often seen.

So two players (in a non-belgian federation) will pay different entrance fee according to their nationality.

According to me (I maybe wrong) it is not acceptable. Is there an european guideness about price policy in relation with the federation of the player ? The question can also be seen as any organisation of a EGF-country member which is open to non-member of this federation with a additional fee ?

I can understand reduction for local player or reduction for local federation member but hardly addition cost in relation with the normal price.

What do you think about that ?

Thanks alot.

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“I am easily satisfied with the very best.” Winston Churchill

KGS | EGF | GMT+1

I don't see what's wrong with this. If I understand correctly, anyone who isn't a member of their national federation pays a little extra. Seems normal to me, most countries do this... shrug...What am I missing?

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North Lecale

The organisers can do whatever they want, it is their tournament.

They might just as well have said: 5 euro discount for BGF members and foreign players. Same result.

Thats normal even for small local tournaments here. If I don't missunderstand something entirely.

It is not anyone but any belgian who is not member of Belgian Federation.

For exemple, I am affiliated to the French Federation. A "French-French" will pay less than me.

Looks disadvantageous for belgian players affiliated in another country.

_________________
“I am easily satisfied with the very best.” Winston Churchill

KGS | EGF | GMT+1

Well not really, foreign players could be interpretated as non-BGF players which in that case include thebelgian players affiliated to French or German Federation.

_________________
“I am easily satisfied with the very best.” Winston Churchill

KGS | EGF | GMT+1

Thats the exact same rule we have here for about every tournament. The local Federation so to speak is usually a huge contributor/supporter or even the organizer of these tournaments, so it's only ok to have these extra 5€ to encourage local players to join.

If you are a local and don't want to join the local Federation, but still want to take part in their tournaments - thats fine, but you gotta chip in a little more then. I don't think this is discriminating against anyone. Foreign players are usually treated as guests.

Yes, but then again, that's your decision. You've made the decision not to support the BGF, so you do not get the discount for members.

The discount is an incentive to join the BGF. Of course, you cannot generally expect foreign players to join the BGF, so they give those the discount anyway.

So the problem isn't that non Belgians get discounts, nor that Belgians who aren't BCF members don't get them, but that Belgians who _are_ members of other federations don't get the advantages that foreign nationals do (like a Belgian being a member of the BGA or the FFG doesn't get a discount, but a Brit member of the BGA or French member of the FFG does)?

If so, I think Herman has probably nailed the point on the head. By and large, discounts are given to anyone who directly supports the BCF, as no doubt they materially subsidise tournaments in the country. However, foreign nationals are extended the courtesy of the discount under the basis that a) they support their own associations, and b) when Belgians visit their country, the discounts are likely to apply to their players too.

I'm curious, why would a Belgian choose to be a member of a foreign Go association but not of the one in his own country?

I'm assuming that the only interesting case here is a Belgian who is living in, say, Paris. In that case if you complained heartily but politely, you might get the foreigner discount - I'm sure they weren't specifically planning on forcing you to join.

But then again, if you actually live in a foreign country, then your travel expenses will be so much more than 5 euro that complaining about it seems rather petty.