UPDATE: BOWLING'S OLYMPIC FUTURE
Aug 26, 2004, 1:36 PM
BJI’s Keith Hale recently sat down with new World Tenpin Bowling Association President Heikki Sarso, and we’ll have highlights of that conversation, which touched on a wide array of timely topics, in the October issue of Bowlers Journal International magazine.
For now, we’ll share Sarso’s thoughts just on the Olympics…
"We have one big task in the coming months because we have to deliver a comprehensive report on our sport to the IOC after the Olympic Games," Sarso said. "This is good for bowling because we fulfill most of the IOC’s criteria automatically. We have a membership of over 100 nations covering all continents, and we have a good organization, so everything should be working for us."
One major concern among Olympic officials through the years has centered on bowling’s ability to attract a crowd -- to puts fans in seats.
"Although bowling does not normally attract a lot of spectators, recent tournaments and championships in an arena setting have made a big difference," Sarso said. "Not many bowling centers have room for large crowds. The recent World Ranking Masters in Moscow, where the lanes were installed in the Olympic Hall, attracted well over one thousand spectators and were also well-covered by television. I think the future for tournament finals lies in the big arenas. This is something we have to work on as the IOC is asking for information on ticket sales and attendance."
The possibility of revised WTBA zones, the lack of cooperation Sarso has received from his predecessor, and other topics will be covered in the October issue of BJI.
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You're only as good as your last shot. -- Duke Harding
