Bowling In The Olympics

[BG]

Hi everyone!

On the dawn of the Athens Olympics....

I'm just wondering why our great sport isn't part of the Olympic Games?

Thanks!

BG :?

 

[micky_macca]

If you use the search feature im pretty sure this almost exact topic has been discussed! But maybe its time for another go hey..

 

[Greig]

I heard the other day that the International Olympic Committee doesnt want tenpin bowling in the olympics because "it doesnt have great spectator appeal".

Go figure!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[*'TOPHER*]

its got more apeal than horses walking around a square so why not?

 

[GeorgeF]

Here is some information about bowling's Olympic quest as written from Bowlings head honcho.

direct from the FIQ site www.fiq.org


Bowling?s Olympic Quest
A Message from Jerry Koenig, FIQ President
(On behalf of 100,000,000 bowlers in 126 federations)
[French]

COLORADO SPRINGS, CO., September 12, 2002 ? Following an extensive review and discussions with many bowling and international federation colleagues, I believe it is time to comment on the recently announced decision of the International Olympic Committee that its Executive Board has decided ?not to admit? Bowling to the 2008 Olympic Programme. Words are inadequate to express the profound disappointment we all share. However, the dismay that accompanies what has been a long, difficult, and frustrating struggle is compounded by the fact that I am unable to identify specific reasons for our rejection.
By any fair standard, bowling belongs in the Olympic Games. I would like to see the IOC start from scratch and draw up a list of the world?s most popular sports, the sports most likely to generate medal winners from all parts of the world, sports that are gender equal and cost efficient in terms of capital expense, sports that are not subject to judging or doping controversy, sports that are safe and appeal to youth. If they did, bowling would be close to the top of the list.

The only official reasons for rejection I have received from the IOC that might be considered responsive to the question, WHY, are as follows:

??because the Olympic Games cannot grow anymore and their size must be controlled if we want them to succeed in the future.?
?Statistics reviewed on federation affiliation, nations competing in major events and broadcast and press coverage of major events for most rejected sports did not indicate a higher level of global participation and interest than sports currently in the Programme, and therefore could not be considered to bring additional value.?
I note with great interest that the reference in the foregoing quote was to ?most rejected sports.? With 126 federations, more than 60 nations competing in our world championships and as many as 90 nations competing some major events, I find it difficult to believe our sport is considered deficient in these categories. Surely it is also difficult to believe one hundred million participants does not constitute sufficient ?interest? when compared to other sports on the Programme.

Does this leave us with the conclusion we are deficient in the broadcast and press coverage category? For now, I don?t know, but I will do my utmost to get an answer..

At this point, we seem to be positioned like one of our athletes who is confronted with a 7-10 split in the tenth frame of the final championship game, where the spare must be converted to win the gold medal. If the IOC Executive Board does not reverse its decision, or the members of the IOC do not override its decision at the November 28-29, 2002 Session, Bowling will not take its proper place among the sports competing for Olympic gold in 2008.

While the odds against that are formidable, I will offer this observation. During my 47 years as a competitive bowler, I have converted the 7-10 split three times. I guess that?s my way of saying we cannot and will not give up despite the long odds against us.

However, returning to practicalities, we must remember and acknowledge that we are one of 14 sports which have been denied, to say nothing of sports currently on the Programme that have been recommended for removal. By its very nature, and the rules set forth by IOC President, Dr. Jacques Rogge (that no new sport will be admitted without a vote to dismiss an incumbent sport), this is a competitive process.

During my mandate as FIQ President, I have carefully avoided negative comments or criticism of any other sport aspiring to, or holding, Olympic status. I have done so not only because it is right, but also because it represents the highest standards of fair play. I will continue to do so.

But I also have a responsibility to the sport we all love. In that sense I do not have enough specific information to analyze the judgment of the IOC Programme Commission and Executive Board that we do not compare favorably. In this regard, I must note that I was told a set of objective criteria would be applied in evaluating the 2008 Olympic Programme. Specifically, I was told this would be an ?apples to apples? comparison, which would be 99% objective.

Has that happened? I don?t know. I simply do not have enough specific information to form a valid opinion. So my next step will be to seek the necessary answers and report my findings as soon as possible.

Meanwhile, I have total respect and empathy for IOC President Rogge?s assessment of the need to keep the Olympic Games within certain limits and for his colleagues to go through the painful and difficult process of evaluating certain sports for dismissal, as well as others for inclusion.

Therefore, I fervently hope that the IOC will keep the door open for Bowling, and will oversee a fair and objective analysis of where we stand today.

Respectfully submitted,

Gerald L. Koenig, President
F餩ration Internationale des Quilleurs

 

[MinusZero]

I think with tenpin being a sport that is played worldwide that it should be included in the olympics.

with it being said in a previous post that "International Olympic Committee doesnt want tenpin bowling in the olympics because it doesnt have great spectator appeal"

if this is true, are they serious...they are suggesting synchronised swimming has spectator appeal??

The olympics has gone away from what it should be, in my opinion it should be just swimming and athletics...but they seem to want everything. no one can tell me that beach volleyball should be in it....and it isnt just in show off girls in bikini's

maybe thats the key, we will put our women bowlers in bikini's?? heheh just kidding.

If the IOC is that shallow then maybe our great sport shouldnt be demeaned in a world competition where they are basically after ratings.

We can only hope that one day this popular world wide sport is included and other sports that have no right to be there are dropped.

 

[bowlerer]

...

MinusZero - no one can tell me that beach volleyball should be in it....and it isnt just in show off girls in bikini's

thats not fair... these people train almost daily since the age of 11... for this reason i would not mind if they retorted "no one can tell me that bowling should be an olympic sport... its just a bunch of fat guys showing the world they can walk straight" - especially when Beach Volleyball at the Sydney Olympics were rated among the BEST events of the games.

although your view has some truths (as in it is what most people thought about the sport of Beach Vollyball pre 2000) but that is an unfair biased view... it may have taken decades for BV to be given a shot in the games and look how successfull they were! BV was/is what most people remember about the Sydney olympics...

so it should give us a bit of hope that one day -when we are given our chance in the olympics- we can produce some outstanding bowlers who also have the ability to entertain a crowd (basically somebody who celebrates every single good shot [i admit i havnt seen any body but Andrew Frawley bowl - on tv - and he really excited the crowed just by celebrating all his pocket shots (you know, the jump, the shout, yadda yadda)

but yeh, we all know bowling is cool... thats all that matters

 

[Murderdoll]

Wasn't bowling an Exhibition sport in the 1988 Olympics and at the 1998 commonwealth games??

Bowlerer, you said that the beach volleyballers train since they were 11, well that goes for a hell of alot of bowlers too. Training everyday, competing in alot of tournaments, represnting their state in shield/youth/walter de veer/rachuig. And then getting to the level where they compete in the world championships representing their country, that have at least 30 other countries sending their best bowlers to compete.

So with all this, why isnt bowling considered a good enough sport to be in the Olympics?

 

[jedi_bowler]

Bowling Will NEVER become an Olympic sport as long as there is no World Gov Body, and as long as there is no set Standard.

You look at all the Major sports and there is a world standard.

I think untill We have standars and one governing body, bowling will not be taken as a serious sport.

 

[Murderdoll]

But we do have a governing body, its called the World Tenpin Bowling Association (WTBA)

"Welcome to WTBA Site

World Tenpin Bowling Association governs the sport of tenpin bowling throughout the world.

There are over 100 million bowlers of which over 10 million are taking part in tournaments, leagues and championships.

Through this website you will find all necessary information and contacts you need in one of the largest and best organized sports in the world."


Is that enough proof for you?

 

[craig]

while theres oil, it will not make the olympics

it can be layed to suit a certain country, or style of bowler

thus making it not an even playing field for every competitor

i hope like you all that i can tune into bowling in the olympics one day, but i don't think it will happen too soon

 

[jedi_bowler]

Yes I am aware of the WTBA.
However there influence isn't that great. For a World Governing Body, they don't do alot of World Govening. If lots of countries use Many different Oil patterns, and Condictions.
I Like all bowlers Would LOVE to see Tenpin bowling in the olympics.
However how can we expect the IOC to take us seriously. when there are so many standards around the world.
Until this happens i don't like our chances.

 

[kay101]

the wtba is probably a great organisation...i kid you not, but the fact remains that bowling, and its chances of making the olympics are marginal. Bowling is a sport that has alot of variables....

Compare it to basketball...same size ball, same size court, same size hoops, same indoor surface thoughout the world. This is the same with all sports in the olympics, as they all have an even standard throughout the world.

Bowling, in my opinion, will never make the olympics due to the differences it has globally. I would personally love it to, but i dont see this happening in the near future.

 

[willey]

Boy some people write a lot of nonsense, the same balls! the same courts! the same hoops! etc, etc, etc,.
Lets have a look at a few facts here: Tennis- different surfaces, different racquets, even the balls can have different pressures. Equestrian- now they dont all ride the same horse do they, maybe they should. Soccer-remember the Euro cup and the talk about the balls being different , seemed to do a bit more in the air. Basketball- the hoops may be the same size but they have different coatings on the ring, which can effect scoring.Hockey- again different surfaces, even to the amount of water put on a synthetic surface.All sports have thier own subtleties.
Now did someone mention oil ? Craig as someone who works in the industry you should know better, complaining about oil on lanes is best left up to those who have a little bit of knowledge. The facts are this the rest of the world is starting to endorse the different oil pattern each day tournament, this takes the oil out of the equation and the best bowlers can now compete on a level playing field. This should happen in Australia as well when they relise 3;1 or 2:1 does'nt stop high scoring.
willey

As for the Olympics, of course Bowling should be there. I did read somewhere thier is something like 100,000 Shot Putters in the World, makes you think does'nt it.

 

[craig]

are you questioning my knowledge as a tech or a bowler???

 

[xpense]

Does anyone know why bowling was dropped from the olympics in the first place. Bowling was an olympic sport, but due to WWII the games were cancelled. The next games bowling was not included.

Can anyone answer this question?

If the criteria for getting a new sport into the olympics is droping another sport, then this is highly unlikely to happen, and bowling will never get into the olympics. As much as l would love to see it included.

I am not having a go at any sport here, but what makes sports like, table tennis, sycronised swimming, sycronised diving, handball, and any other of the abnormal "sports" in the olympics get included in the games?
Is it that they are seen as a sport?
Is it that they are spectator friendly?
Is it that they know how to promote thier sport to the IOC to get inclusion?

Lets look at the majority of sports in the olympics. They are not all that spectator friendly, they are not sports that you are going to be able to go the street and attempt yourself, without a lot of expense, or training to be able to complete.

Javlin & shot put, are not sports that are going to make you go down the street and have a go. As much as l dont like to see table tennis in the olympics over bowling, lets face it, it is something that you can go out and have a go at, and keep having a go at all the time.

After all the olympics is supposed to be the best of the best in the their chosen sport, but if all sports are not included, then it is not a fair playing field anyway, as not all sports are included.

Now lets see how many posts i genrate from these comments

 

[spoon]

We should all get into Lawn bowls :lol: :idea:
Now thats an exciting spectators sport...... :roll:

 

[spoon]

How can you have events like Table Tennis and Synchronised Swimming in the Olympics and no Ten Pin Bowling...
Who enjoys watching Badminton?? :roll:

 

[wchester]

Boy some people write a lot of nonsense, Basketball- the hoops may be the same size but they have different coatings on the ring, which can effect scoring.

Put down that bong NOW!

 

[Peanut]

mmmm. last night watching SBS i think. watching the Equestrian - Dressage omg there was about 40 people there. i mean our sport would bring alot more people then that. I think the IOC should relook at the subject.

Thats my veiw
Ash