World Bowls

World Bowls is an international sport federation of Bowls. World Bowls administers bowls around the world and is responsible for the sports premier event, the World Bowls Championship which historically was held every four years but from 2023 took place every two years.

World Bowls

Formation	2001
Type	Sports federation
Headquarters	Edinburgh, Scotland
Membership	53 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. The founding was a merger of previous organisations; the World Bowls Board and the International Women's Bowling Board.

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.

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

Events held by World Bowls

• World Bowls Championship (outdoors), blue riband event of the sport (held every two years)
• World Singles Champion of Champions (outdoors), annually
• World Bowls Indoor Championships (indoors), annually and the rival of the BBC televised World Indoor Bowls Championships

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 April 2022:

• Africa:

1. Botswana (Botswana BA)
2. Kenya (Kenya BA)
3. Namibia (Namibia BA)
4. South Africa (Bowls South Africa)
5. Zambia (Zambia BA)
6. Zimbabwe (Bowls Zimbabwe)

• 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. Japan (Bowls Japan)
6. Macau (Macao Lawn Bowls General Association)
7. Malaysia (Malaysia LBF)
8. Pakistan (Pakistan Lawn Bowls Federation)
9. Philippines (Philippine LBA)
10. Singapore (Bowls Singapore)
11. Sri Lanka (Lawn Bowls Federation of Sri Lanka)
12. Thailand (Lawn Bowls Association of Thailand)

• 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. Tonga (Tonga Lawn Bowls Federation)

• 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)

• 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)

• Former Members:

1. Eswatini (Swaziland Bowling Association)

Regions

53 Countries in 5 Zones (Updated at 12 April 2022).

Number	Region	Countries
1	Africa	6
2	Asia	12
3	Oceania	9
4	Americas	6
5	Europe	20
Total	World	53

See also

• World Bowls events