WTBA CONGRESS VOTES TO RETURN
JOINT WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS

The World Tenpin Bowling Association will join its men's and women's world championships every four years beginning in 2013, the WTBA Congress decided recently.

The WTBA World Championships will feature both men and women for the first time since the 2003 event in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. The WTBA will also continue to hold men's and women's world championships separately. In 2014, there will be a WTBA World Men's Championships and 2015 will feature a WTBA World Women's Championships. There will be no world championships in 2012.

The joint championships will have a limited field with approximately one in three countries from each of the three zones - American, Asian and European - taking part.

"Each zone will independently determine which countries will compete, presumably through zone championships in the non-world championships year leading up to the joint event," WTBA President Kevin Dornberger said. "Having our men and women compete together in the same venue every four years adds another level of excitement than when they are competing separately."

The process for determining future sites for WTBA events was also changed by the WTBA Congress. Instead of exclusively awarding bids to member federations to host world events, cities or countries will also be able to bid starting with the 2013 joint world championships.

"Allowing cities and countries to bid for our championships is a major step in the right direction," Dornberger said. "This allows for more commercial opportunities and opens the door for our events to garner more sponsorships and support from local communities."

In other news, the WTBA Congress elected China's Cui Zhiqiang as second vice president of the organization.

Cui has serviced as the vice president of the Chinese Bowling Association since 2004 and vice president of the Asian Bowling Federation since 2008. He also has been involved in other sports and currently is the vice president of the Chinese Rugby Union and was the former secretary general of the Chinese Golf Association.

UPCOMING WTBA WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS

2010 - World Men's Championships, Munich, Germany
2011 - World Women's Championships, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
2012 - Off year
2013 - Joint World Championships, TBD
2014 - World Men's Championships, TBD
2015 - World Women's Championships, TBD

United States Bowling Congress
The United States Bowling Congress, as the national governing body, ensures the integrity and protects the future of the sport, provides programs and services to more than two million adult and youth members and enhances the bowling experience.