World Bowls

World Bowls is an international sport federation of Bowls.^[1][2] World Bowls administers bowls around the world and is responsible for the sports premier event, the World Bowls Championship which is historically held every four years.

World Bowls

Formation	2001
Type	Sports federation
Headquarters	Melbourne, Australia
Membership	59 members
Official language	English
President	Darryl Clout
Website	https://www.worldbowls.com/

The organisation was founded in 2001 in an attempt to unite some of the multiple bowls bodies running the sport.^[3] The founding was a merger of previous organisations; the World Bowls Board and the International Women's Bowling Board.^[4]

In 2019, World Bowls came to an agreement with the International Indoor Bowls Council (IIBC). The agreement was to merge their two international indoor championships, the World Cup Singles and the IIBC Championships. The new event would be called the World Bowls Indoor Championships.^[5][6]

In 2021, Australian Darryl Clout was elected World Bowls President following the resignation of John Bell.^[7]

Events held by World Bowls

• World Bowls Championship (outdoors), blue riband event of the sport (held every four years)
• World Cup (held every four years)
• World Singles Champion of Champions (outdoors), annually
• World Bowls Indoor Championships (indoors), annually
• World Bowls Junior Championship (indoors) annually

Rival organisations

• International Indoor Bowls Council (IIBC), (formerly the WIBC and controlling body for the sport of indoor bowls worldwide)
• World Bowls Tour (represents professional indoor bowlers and promotes several indoor events including the BBC televised World Indoor Bowls Championships)

World Bowls members

List as of November 2024:^[8]

• Africa:

1.  Botswana (Botswana BA)
2.  Ghana (Ghana BA)
3.  Kenya (Kenya BA)
4.  Malawi (BA of Malawi)
5.  Namibia (Namibia BA)
6.  Nigeria (Nigeria Bowling Federation)
7.  South Africa (Bowls South Africa)
8.  Zambia (Zambia BA)
9.  Zimbabwe (Bowls Zimbabwe)

• Americas:

1.  Argentina (Federacion Argentina De Bowls)
2.  Brazil (Bowls Brazil)
3.  Canada (Bowls Canada Boulingrin)
4. Falkland Islands (Falkland Islands L.B.A)
5.  Jamaica (Jamaica Lawn Bowling Association)
6.  United States (Bowls USA)

• Asia:

1.  Brunei (Brunei Darussalam LBA)
2.  China (Chinese Multi Bowls Association)
3.  Hong Kong (Hong Kong LBA)
4.  India (Bowling Federation of India)
5.  Iran (Bowling & Billiard Federation of I.R.Iran)
6.  Japan (Bowls Japan)
7.  Macau (Macao Lawn Bowls General Association)
8.  Malaysia (Malaysia LBF)
9.  Pakistan (Pakistan Lawn Bowls Federation)
10.  Philippines (Philippine LBA)
11.  Singapore (Bowls Singapore)
12.  South Korea (South Korea BA)
13.  Sri Lanka (Lawn Bowls Federation of Sri Lanka)
14.  Thailand (Lawn Bowls Association of Thailand)

• Europe:

1.  Cyprus (Bowls Cyprus)
2.  Czech Republic (Czech Bowls Association)
3.  England (Bowls England)
4.  France (Federation Francaise de Lawn Bowls)
5.  Germany (German Bowls Federation)
6.  Guernsey (Bowls Guernsey Association)
7.  Hungary (Bowls Hungary)
8. Ireland, combined (Irish Bowling Association)
9.  Isle of Man (Bowls Isle of Man)
10.  Israel (Israel LBA)
11.  Jersey (Bowls Jersey)
12.  Malta (Malta Lawn Bowls Federation)
13.  Netherlands (Nederlandse Bowls Bond)
14.  Portugal (Bowls Portugal)
15.  Scotland (Bowls Scotland)
16.  Spain (Lawn Bowls Spain)
17.  Sweden (Swedish Bowls Federation)
18.  Switzerland (Swiss Bowls)
19.  Turkey (Turkish Bocce, Bowls, Bowling and Darts Federation)
20.  Wales (Welsh Bowling Association)

• Oceania:

1.  Australia (Bowls Australia)
2.  Cook Islands (Bowls Cook Island)
3.  Fiji (Bowls Fiji)
4.  New Zealand (Bowls New Zealand)
5.  Niue (Niue Lawn Bowls Association)
6.  Norfolk Island (Norfolk Island Bowling Club & Bowls Council)
7.  Papua New Guinea (Bowls - PNG)
8.  Samoa (Samoan Bowling Association)
9.  Tokelau (Bowls Tokelau)
10.  Tonga (Tonga Lawn Bowls Federation)

• Former Members:

1.  Eswatini (Swaziland Bowling Association)

Regions

59 Countries in 5 Zones

Zone	Region	Countries
1	Africa	9
4	Americas	6
2	Asia	14
5	Europe	20
3	Oceania	10
Total	World	59

See also

• World lawn and indoor bowls events

References

1. "Welcome to World Bowls – supporting the game across the world". World Bowls. Retrieved 13 April 2022.
2. "About World Bowls". World Bowls. Retrieved 13 April 2022.
3. "'World game plans for united future'". The Times. 1 January 2001. p. 29. Retrieved 13 April 2022 – via The Times Digital Archive.
4. "'Administrators lean towards unification". The Times. 13 April 2001. p. 35. Retrieved 13 April 2022 – via The Times Digital Archive.
5. "Preview a new World Championship" (PDF). Bristol Indoor Bowls. Retrieved 12 April 2022.
6. "World Bowls Indoor Championships". World Bowls. Retrieved 12 April 2022.
7. "AUSTRALIA'S DARRYL CLOUT ELECTED WORLD BOWLS PRESIDENT". Bowls Australia. 19 July 2021. Retrieved 13 April 2022.
8. "Member Nations". World Bowls. Retrieved 10 November 2024.