EDEWECHT (Germany) - Uwe Martens (1959), first president of the European Mahjong Association, is resigning from his office. The General Assemblee of the OEMC 2009 at Baden, Austria, will be his last. Time to look back with Uwe, and to ask some opinions about him.  "We need some refreshment in the relationship to our partners in the World Mahjong Organization."

What do you consider your greatest achievement during your administration?

"In 2005, most Mahjong players in Europe recognized that we had an absolute chance to concentrate power and spirit of a European Mahjong movement under one roof. EMA was accepted as the European Mahjong authority, even if it was only the idea of a strong organization in the beginning. The enthusiasm is still alive until today: several hundred players are participating in many tournaments, new national organizations grew up, EMA represents the peaceful and friendly Europe – and this is also a political dimension.

"By the influence of EMA we achieved a worldwide standard of Mahjong rule sets: The Mahjong Competition Rules published by WMO in 2006 are the result of our endeavors for a single competition standard. The standardized Riichi Rules - developed by experts from the Netherlands and Denmark in cooperation with players from Japan and the United States - are a great success because of the undisputed authority of EMA.

What would you have like to achieve but did not happen?

"We didn't succeed in building a powerful worldwide community as well. And we didn't make enough efforts in public relations work. But four years are a short time for such an ambitious project like EMA. We all should be proud about the achievements of the last years. In total EMA is a success - even if there is still a lot of work to do."

What do you think as the most important goals for EMA in the near future? - What are the most important problems your successor will have to deal with?

"EMA is still growing. The responsible leaders will have to lead EMA to an organization of much more national members and thousands of players. We will have to bring the statutes and the image of EMA into line with this development. I am not sure if there is a risk of organizing too many competitions. 14 organizations, MCR and Riichi, online tournaments as well - a very strong challenge for only a few hundred players.

"Mahjong is a real democratic game: there are several rule sets existing, and it is the players' decision which rule is a success, which one is common, which one is standard. EMA should have the power and sensitivity to be the home of all mahjong players in Europe. At this moment, we have two strong families living in our home: the MCR family and the riichi family. Both are related: by players who like to play both rules. I hope that EMA will succeed in integrating these colorful, different but equal currents of playing. This is a very important goal: If Europe is divided in several mahjong organizations, it would weaken the idea of a modern and sporting mahjong unification worldwide. We shouldn't repeat the fate of Mahjong in the 1930's.

"We need some refreshment in the relationship to our partners in the World Mahjong Organization. Especially China and Japan are important for our common future.

"What is Mahjong: a sports? A game for social playing? A game for professionals? EMA will have to decide if a kind of professional league should be established in Europe as well - and if EMA is the one who should do it."

What is your opinion about cooperation with the Chinese? Some people (e.g., me ;-) say EMA should emphasize its position toward China, since it has a much stronger foundation than WMO.

"I am certain that we need a cooperation with Chinese partners. Mahjong is Chinese, even if ‘it belongs to the world’. Developing the spirit of Mahjong in future and keeping the Chinese idea and philosophy of the game will only be successful with China at our side. Even the globalized Mahjong will remain Chinese. But we need a reliable cooperation with our friends in China. We need clear statutes in the WMO. The World Championship in the Netherlands in 2010 will offer the chance to consolidate our relationship.
"We need China because mahjong is a Chinese game - but China needs Europe because EMA is the most important international mahjong organization. China has the game – we have the structures and the know-how of organizing it.

"Finally: I am very grateful to have the chance to work for EMA during the last four years. Thank you very much to all national organizations, to all members of the board and especially to the Vice President Tina Christensen for great cooperation. Thanks a lot to all European Mahjong players – your enthusiasm, activities and support is the real proof of our common idea of mahjong culture in Europe. No doubt: EMA will have a successful development in future.

What EMA Board Members say about Uwe Martens

Mahjong News: What do you think was Uwe's greatest achievement for mahjong?

Tina Christensen, vice-president of EMA and president of Mahjong Denmark:  During the first four years of EMA the continous expansion of EMA and the encouragement to create further and active national organizations was always high on Uwe's agenda. The support and encouragement of the new EMA countries resulted in six countries creating national organizations additional to the original seven.

Marco Milandri, president of the Italian Mahjong Federation: Uwe, being the first president, had the difficoult task to build the EMA from the basis, in particular the writing of the statutes was the biggest and the most important work to do because it estabilishes the basis of our association. After that, the countinous expansion of the association is a sign of the good work the Uwe and the board are doing.

Martin Scheichenbauer, president of Mahjong Austria: My comments on Uwe:

1. He was always deliberate, never took thoughtless decisions
2. He always had an open ear for requests
3. He did not like to put himself on the foregrond
4. I hope that he will have more time to play now…

'Captain' András Boda, president of Mahjong Hungary: I think Uwe's greatest effort is that he showed all of us, how to work, to communicate, to behave in a calm, friendly, tolerant manner. He didn't think himself neither as a commander, nor as a captain of the EMA-ship: he was just one of us, though he was president from the very first moment unquestionably. Before the decisions he was always curious about all opinions, had a lot of background conversations not just the members of the Board, but with many players... With an attitude like that, you certainly reach respect of your folks... I think, he did - we all will miss him a lot as president.

Mahjong News: What special advice would you give his successor, and what would be her/his greatest challenge?

Mark Chizhenok, president of the Russian Mahjong Federeation: The greatest challenges will be the World Championship to be held in Europe and what ever else the successor would like to challenge. My advise will be to go forward in making mahjong in Europe a professional sport.

András Boda: His successor has to follow Uwe's beaten path. The new president should also follow the diplomatic mode he kept contact with our Chinese friends - which is often not easy as far as I can see... It's important to keep Europe's main mahjong events, also to find new ways to spread the game, to make it more popular throughout Europe. We should not forget, that the world crisis surely has its efforts to many travelling players - I think we have to try organise affordable, 'cheap' events for most European players... But first of all, I hope, that the manner of EMA's leadership stays such a friendly, democratic, tolerant, flexible organisation, as it was the last couple of years...

Marco Milandri:  The successor of Uwe should be able to continue the expansion of the association through Europe and will have the important date of the first world championship held in Europe. This is the opportunity to show Asian players which is the potentiality of mahjong in Europe and to show if we are prepared to win a world championship.

Tina Christensen: For the coming president a great challenge will be to ensure a high and similar standard of tournaments all across Europe. Education of referees, training options for players and communication and settlement of rule issues will be important tools in achieving success.