VEGHEL - How will the players look in the arena during the first World Cup new style in Veghel? What are the official new rules for clothing (shirt, vest, bow tie trousers, socks and shoes) and what are the other international and national rules regarding the prescribed clothing. Do the smoking jackets and bow ties belong to the past and replaced by the sporty look of players and referees? The World Cup organisation of Veghel asked Kozoom to publish an update, so that it is clear to the players what the official dress code will look like.
Harry Mathijssen, organizer of the World Cup in Veghel (7-13 November 2021), gives the lead: ''We want to show the audience in the billiard halls and viewers on TV the new, fresh billiard culture.'' He signalled that there are many doubts among players about the current rules. Mr. Farouk Barki, UMB president, refers to the new UMB rules, published on 14 April 2021.
Those rules, among other things, prescribe the dress code for the World Cups: 'Long-sleeved polo shirt, any colour allowed, black trousers, black socks and black shoes. Jeans and corduroy trousers not allowed.' These rules apply to both men and women. While staying in the tournament room and its enclosure and on official occasions (press conferences, receptions, banquets etc), according to these official rules, athletes must wear 'appropriate, elegant clothing.'
The CEB, European federation, adds another rule: 'Participants in official CEB events must make a clean, well-groomed impression.' For World Championship tournaments, like this year in the Egyptian resort town of Sharm El Sheikh, the traditional dress code still applies. Black shoes, black trousers, black socks, white or plain coloured shirt with long sleeves, a bow tie over a buttoned collar. A jacket is compulsory (choice of colour is free). All players must wear their national emblem on the left side of the chest.'
The two Dutch leading plyers, in the country where the first World Cup new style is played, have a strong opinion about cloths. Dick Jaspers: ''I am often between two minds. I would prefer World Championships and European Championships to be played in smoking jackets with national emblems and World Cups in long-sleeved polo shirts.'' Torbjörn Blomdahl, the world champion three-cushion, is brief in his comment: ''For me personally, I am very happy that I don't have to play billiards in those 'heavy' clothes anymore.'' Therese Klompenhouwer, the ladies world champion: ''I would prefer polo shirts with short sleeves, different coloured trousers and sport shoes. That's much better and more nice for playing billiards, because it looks more sporty and also because a jacket with a bow tie just doesn't fit well. Playing billiards in a polo shirt is much more comfortable.''
In the rules for competition clothing, during championships and official tournaments, uniformity is required for the athletes registered by their national federations. As far as teams are concerned, all players must wear the same clothes. The CEB also prescribes: ''The competition clothing consists of: black shoes, black socks, black trousers (corduroy or jeans not allowed), single-colour shirt, long sleeves, a bow tie and a billiard waistcoat.
For referees during the World Cups is usual that the wear the tenue of the sponsor or the organizing country. At the World Championship it is obligatory to wear a blouse/gilet/bow tie. Referees should dress the same, but that is not common anymore. For example, the Dutch in the official tournaments wear blue waistcoats, the Spanish dress in red, the Belgians in black and the French in blue.
A World Cup organisation can allow referees to wear their own colours. At the World Cup in Veghel, for example, referees will be wearing the Jumbo colours (yellow and black). That is approved by the UMB.
The new and the old style during World Cups and World Championships showed by Dick Jaspers, Torbjörn Blomdahl, Marco Zanetti and Eddy Merckx
