Sports organisation
World Bowls is an international sport federation ofBowls .[ 1] [ 2] World Bowls administers bowls around the world and is responsible for the sports premier event, theWorld Bowls Championship which is held every four years.[ 3]
The organisation was founded in 2001 in an attempt to unite some of the multiple bowls bodies running the sport.[ 4] The founding was a merger of previous organisations; the World Bowls Board and the International Women's Bowling Board.[ 5]
In 2019, World Bowls came to an agreement with theInternational Indoor Bowls Council (IIBC). The agreement was to merge their two international indoor championships, theWorld Cup Singles and theIIBC Championships . The new event would be called theWorld Bowls Indoor Championships .[ 6] [ 7]
In 2021, Australian Darryl Clout was elected World Bowls President following the resignation ofJohn Bell .[ 8] In 2022, the headquarters for World Bowls moved from Edinburgh in Scotland to Melbourne in Australia.[ 9] The plans to hold a World championship every two years were scrapped and a new event called the World Cup was introduced instead.[ 10]
Main events held by World Bowls [ edit ] Rival organisations [ edit ] World Bowls members [ edit ] List as of November 2024:[ 11]
Botswana (Botswana BA) Ghana (Ghana BA) Kenya (Kenya BA) Malawi (BA of Malawi) Namibia (Namibia BA) Nigeria (Nigeria Bowling Federation) South Africa (Bowls South Africa ) Zambia (Zambia BA) Zimbabwe (Bowls Zimbabwe) Argentina (Federacion Argentina De Bowls) Brazil (Bowls Brazil) Canada (Bowls Canada Boulingrin) Falkland Islands (Falkland Islands L.B.A) Jamaica (Jamaica Lawn Bowling Association) United States (Bowls USA ) Brunei (Brunei Darussalam LBA) China (Chinese Multi Bowls Association) Hong Kong (Hong Kong LBA) India (Bowling Federation of India) Iran (Bowling & Billiard Federation of I.R.Iran) Japan (Bowls Japan) Macau (Macao Lawn Bowls General Association) Malaysia (Malaysia LBF) Pakistan (Pakistan Lawn Bowls Federation) Philippines (Philippine LBA ) Singapore (Bowls Singapore) South Korea (South Korea BA) Sri Lanka (Lawn Bowls Federation of Sri Lanka) Thailand (Lawn Bowls Association of Thailand) Cyprus (Bowls Cyprus) Czech Republic (Czech Bowls Association) England (Bowls England ) France (Federation Francaise de Lawn Bowls) Germany (German Bowls Federation) Guernsey (Bowls Guernsey Association) Hungary (Bowls Hungary) Ireland, combined ((IBA) /(WIBA) ) Isle of Man (Bowls Isle of Man) Israel (Israel LBA) Jersey (Bowls Jersey) Malta (Malta Lawn Bowls Federation) Netherlands (Nederlandse Bowls Bond) Portugal (Bowls Portugal) Scotland (Bowls Scotland ) Spain (Lawn Bowls Spain) Sweden (Swedish Bowls Federation) Switzerland (Swiss Bowls) Turkey (Turkish Bocce, Bowls, Bowling and Darts Federation) Wales (Welsh Lawn Bowls ) Australia (Bowls Australia ) Cook Islands (Bowls Cook Island) Fiji (Bowls Fiji) New Zealand (Bowls New Zealand ) Niue (Niue Lawn Bowls Association) Norfolk Island (Norfolk Island Bowling Club & Bowls Council) Papua New Guinea (Bowls - PNG) Samoa (Samoan Bowling Association) Tokelau (Bowls Tokelau) Tonga (Tonga Lawn Bowls Federation) Eswatini (Swaziland Bowling Association)59 Countries in 5 Zones
Events & Calendar Outdoors Outdoors (National Championships) Indoors Defunct
ASOIF (30+2)Summer Olympics Federations AQUA (aquatic sports)WA (archery)WAth (athletics)BWF (badminton)WBSC (baseball, softball and Baseball5) (associate)FIBA (basketball)ICF (canoeing)UCI (cycling)WDSF (dance sport) (associate)FEI (equestrian)FIE (fencing)FIFA (football)IGF (golf)FIG (gymnastics)IHF (handball)FIH (field hockey)IJF (judo)UIPM (modern pentathlon)WSK (roller sports)FISA (rowing)WR (rugby union)WS (sailing)ISSF (shooting)IFSC (sport climbing)ISA (surfing)ITTF (table tennis)WT (taekwondo)ITF (tennis)TRI (triathlon)FIVB (volleyball)IWF (weightlifting)UWW (wrestling)AIOWF (7)Winter Olympics Federations IBU (biathlon)IBSF (bobsleigh and skeleton)WC (curling)IIHF (ice hockey)FIL (luge)ISU (skating sports)FIS (skiing and snowboarding sports)ARISF (39)Others recognised byIOC AIMS (20)Others inSportAccord formerGAISF observer members (11) Others WEKAF (arnis)AFLC (Australian rules football)WBGF (backgammon)ISBHF (ball hockey)IBA (bodyboarding)WB (bowls)IBA 1,3 (boxing)WB 2,3 (boxing)SJJIF (Brazilian jiu-jitsu)IFBA (broomball)WCF (croquet)WDBF (dodgeball)ICFRA (fullbore rifle)IGAA (Gaelic football and hurling)ATSX (downhill ice cross)IKF 3 (kabaddi)WK 3 (kabaddi)IKF (kempo)FISLY (landsailing)IMMAF (mixed martial arts)WMRA (mountain running)ORSI (ocean rowing)IPF (pickleball)IQA (quad ball)IFMAR (radio-controlled racing)IRF (rogaining)WSSF (snowshoe running)ISF (skyrunning)WSSA (sport stacking)ITHF (table hockey)ITPF (tent pegging)FIT (touch football)ITRA (trail running)IAU (ultra running)1 IOC recognition withdrawn 2 Seeking IOC recognition 3 Contested governance