This edition had to be hosted by France, which declined in favour of Italy as a reconciliation after Italy failed to organize the 1986 edition. The rest day was as early as June 5th, because the German team (participating in Active30 European Championship in Gijon, Spain) arrived late and were also given the bye in the first round on June 4th. So the rounds were on the following days of June: 4, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11.

In the French team Manuel Apicella fell ill half-way and was replaced by Gilles Miralles, who arrived at the 5th round, just to participate with a loss in a historic event: the first team win ever in the Mitropa by Luxembourg. The french captain, Sharif, took it jovially and asked the tournament director for doping test on the Luxembourg team (source "Scacco!" July 1988).