Bowling Stands Tall

Bowling Stands Tall

November 3, 2020 0 By webmaster

“Bowling forward, bolder, stronger, fiercer. Bowling has evolved”

Following an Extra Ordinary Congress held in Lausanne, Switzerland, November 2nd 2020, the name of the association was changed from World Bowling (WB) to the International Bowling Federation (IBF). The official headquarters of the IBF will continue to be based in Lausanne, Switzerland. This change also brings about the adoption of the new Articles of Association (statutes) fit for an international governing body (adopted 2nd Nov 2020).

Andrew Oram (CEO of WB & IBF since October 2019) indicates that this is not merely a name change, rather a full governance change and shift in direction for our international governing body, to help fulfil its mission.

IBF are implementing several changes that aim to evolve our sport for the new age:

  • Rationalisation of World Championships and exclusive rights for IBF to use the term “World”
  • Re-branding from World Bowling to IBF, and with it recognition for ninepin, tenpin and para bowing sports
  • Global Rankings for athletes worldwide
  • Technological changes to make use of the vast amount of data within our sport
  • Increased relations with proprietors and bowling centre operators
  • Introduction of an Academy to provide training to all involved in the sport (volunteers, referees, coaches, officials, etc.)

These are exciting times ahead, not only for IBF but for all governing bodies including Scottish Tenpin Bowling (STB). We look forward to working with IBF to evolve our sport closer to home and embrace the change ahead.

Please see their new media links:

“We should not seek approval or acknowledgement that bowling is a sport. Bowling is a sport and we have incredible athletes who prove it with sacrifice, commitment and hard work.”

Andrew Oram – IBF CEO

“I have heard for the past year from many that the sport would have changed if included in the Olympic games. This is a flawed vision. We must change to reflect the scale of bowling and the true global representation of the sport. Evidence, fact not fiction. An Olympic bid should not be a rescue strategy for a sport. An Olympic bid should be an enhancement of a vision for success that is shared from proprietors to administrators to athletes and volunteers.”

Andrew Oram – IBF CEO

Now it is time for a rebirth that leverages the key learnings from the past in forming a new history

Andrew Oram – IBF CEO