Every four years, athletes from around the world gather to compete in the pinnacle of sporting events – the Summer Olympic Games. With hundreds of athletic disciplines represented across dozens of sports, the Olympics showcase the most elite athletic talent on the global stage. But one sport that has yet to be granted official Olympic status is bowling.
Bowling has a long and rich history spanning thousands of years and countless cultures worldwide. Today, over 90 countries have professional bowling leagues and competitions are broadcast globally. So why has bowling been denied Olympic status while lesser-known sports are included in every Summer Games?
In this article, we’ll dive into the history of bowling as an Olympic event, the key arguments for and against bowling becoming an official Olympic sport, and why its status remains so controversial.
History of Bowling at the Olympics
While bowling has never been an official medal-awarding sport, it has been showcased as a demonstration event at two previous Summer Olympics:
1988 Seoul Olympics
At the 1988 Summer Games in Seoul, South Korea, bowling was included as a demonstration sport alongside other non-medal events like badminton and taekwondo. The bowling competition was held from September 18-30 and featured men’s and women’s individual events with 120 qualifying athletes.
The men’s division saw American Dave Davis defeat Finland’s Martti Luodonen 185-182 in a roll-off after the two were tied. The women’s event saw Canada’s Carolyn Sauro narrowly edge out American Leanne Barrette 185-184 to earn the gold. The bowling exhibition helped demonstrate the sport’s competitiveness and skill requirements on the global stage.
1992 Barcelona Olympics
Bowling’s positive reception in Seoul led to its second appearance as an Olympic demonstration sport at the 1992 Barcelona Olympics. The competition was again widely popular, though marred by some controversy.
American bowler John Gant set a new world record in the men’s singles event with a 290 score. But Gant later admitted to altering the oil pattern on the lane to gain an advantage, leading to his scores being disqualified and expulsion from the games. In the officially recognized events, Finland and Sweden took gold in the men’s and women’s divisions respectively.
Efforts to Include Bowling as an Official Olympic Sport
Since the 1990s, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) has placed strict limits on the number of sports included in each Summer Olympics. Baseball, softball, karate, squash, chess, and other sports have mounted campaigns to be included but failed to achieve official Olympic status.
Bowling also continues to fight for Olympic inclusion. The sport’s leading international federation, World Bowling, has lobbied the IOC by touting bowling’s global appeal and accessibility. But so far these efforts have not succeeded in making bowling part of future Olympic Games.
Arguments For Bowling as an Olympic Sport
So why do bowling fans, athletes, and officials believe the sport deserves to be elevated to the Olympic stage? Here are some of the leading arguments in favor:
Global Popularity
Bowling is played professionally in over 90 countries worldwide across Europe, the Americas, Asia, Africa, and Oceania. Over 100 million people participate in bowling, demonstrating true global appeal. Olympics aim to represent the most popular sports internationally, a standard bowling lives up to.
Athletic Skill
Contrary to perceptions of bowling as purely recreational, the sport requires immense physical skill and athleticism. Strength, balance, coordination, finesse, and control are all critical to throwing consistent strikes.
Bowling well for long durations of time demands athletic endurance too. The best bowlers in the world exhibit abilities comparable to top athletes in other Olympic disciplines.
Standardized Competition
Uniform rules and equipment specifications are used in bowling competitions worldwide. This standardization and governance by World Bowling make the sport well-suited for Olympic-style competition.
Rules determine approved bowling ball and lane materials, scoring systems, fouls, etc. The universality of bowling creates a fair playing field for all countries.
Less Popular Sports Are Included
One of the more compelling cases for including bowling is the presence of much more obscure sports like synchronized swimming, rhythmic gymnastics, and equestrian dressage as official Olympic events.
If niche sports with limited global reach can earn inclusion, then bowling absolutely deserves serious consideration based on participation numbers and fans alone.
Arguments Against Bowling Becoming an Olympic Sport
Despite these arguments in favor, there are also numerous reasons bowling has continually been denied Olympic status. Here are some of the common arguments against bowling’s inclusion in the Games:
Perceived as Recreational Not Competitive
The IOC aims to represent the pinnacle of athletic achievement on the global stage. While highly skilled, bowling is still primarily seen as a recreational activity by many rather than a competitive sport requiring intense training.
The Olympic brand values ideals like sportsmanship, determination, and noble struggle, which bowling arguably does not exemplify to the same degree as other events.
Not Globally Appealing Enough
One of the knocks against bowling is that its popularity remains concentrated mostly in the United States and a handful of other countries. In many regions like South America, Africa and parts of Asia, bowling is still considered a niche activity. To be included in the Olympics, which aim to represent diverse cultures and nations, bowling may need to further expand worldwide.
Venue/Facility Limitations
Hosting an Olympic-caliber bowling competition requires appropriate venues and facilities. But not every city has the bowling lanes and infrastructure needed to support an event.
Constructing new temporary or permanent bowling alleys just for the Olympics would also require big investments some hosts may not be willing to make. Facility limitations hinder bowling’s adoption.
Gender Inequity
Compared to most other Olympic sports, bowling suffers from a significant gender gap. Male competitors greatly outnumber females at the highest levels of competition globally. Women’s participation is growing but still has a long way to go to catch up. The IOC values gender equity and may be hesitant to include another male-dominated sport before female participation expands further.
Rebuttals and Counterpoints
Proponents of bowling often attempt to rebut these arguments against the sport’s Olympic inclusion. Here are some of the counterpoints made:
- Bowling may seem like recreation to some, but it takes immense skill and precision on par with archery, shooting and other respected Olympic disciplines. Judging bowling by appearance underestimates its competitiveness.
- Women’s bowling participation has surged over the last decade. Youth involvement by girls is helping close the gender gap more each year. World Bowling projects near equal participation by 2030.
- Not every potential host city needs pre-existing facilities. Temporary bowling alleys have been constructed for past demonstration events. Permanent venues can also be built and repurposed after the Games.
- Bowling’s middle class roots should not discount its competitiveness. Many newer Olympic sports like snowboarding, BMX and 3×3 basketball also come from humble, recreational origins before joining the Games’ program.
Despite the rebuttals, bowling still faces an uphill battle to gain Olympic inclusion in the near future. But with more exposure and growth worldwide, its case may continue to strengthen over time.
Conclusion
Bowling has a long history as both a recreational activity and competitive sport dating back centuries. Its origins span diverse cultures from Ancient Egypt to Germany that helped bowling evolve into the sport cherished by over 100 million fans today.
Yet despite bowling’s rich history and global appeal, its Olympic status remains in limbo. Strong cases exist both for and against elevating bowling to become an official Olympic sport.
Supporters tout bowling’s athletic demands, standardized rules, and mass appeal. But critics argue its lack of global ubiquity beyond the U.S., recreational image and gender imbalance still hold the sport back from Olympic inclusion.
Bowling’s staunchest advocates refuse to give up hope. They will continue lobbying the International Olympic Committee to reconsider bowling for future Summer Games.
But the road ahead is undoubtedly challenging. Only a handful of new sports are added in each Olympic cycle, with many others competing for those coveted spots.
For now, the debate continues over bowling’s rightful place in the Olympics. But perhaps bowling fans will get their wish fulfilled to see the sport’s top athletes competing for gold on the Olympic stage sometime in the not-so-distant future.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why isn’t bowling an Olympic sport?
Bowling is not an Olympic sport mainly because it is perceived by some as more of a recreational activity than a competitive sport. The International Olympic Committee also believes bowling lacks enough global appeal and participation outside of the United States to be included in the Olympics.
Can you go to the Olympics for bowling?
Currently no, bowling is not a medal event at the Summer or Winter Olympics. It was a demonstration sport at the 1988 and 1992 Summer Games but has not been included since. Unless bowling gains Olympic status in the future, athletes cannot currently qualify and compete in bowling at the Olympics.
When did bowling become an Olympic sport?
Bowling has never been an official Olympic sport. It was a demonstration sport at the 1988 Seoul and 1992 Barcelona Summer Olympics but has never been granted full Olympic status with medal events.
Is bowling a world wide sport?
Yes, bowling is considered a worldwide sport. It’s played professionally and competitively in over 90 countries across Europe, the Americas, Africa, Asia, and Oceania. Major international tournaments like the World Bowling Championships feature top male and female bowlers from dozens of nations.
What is the most unpopular Olympic sport?
Some of the least popular current Summer Olympic sports based on global participation and viewership include rhythmic gymnastics, sailing, equestrian events, synchronized swimming, and modern pentathlon. These tend to appeal more to niche audiences.
Is bowling technically a sport?
Yes, bowling is widely considered a sport. It requires physical skills such as strength, balance, hand-eye coordination, and athletic endurance. Competitions are governed by standardized rules and bowling federations. Top bowlers train extensively making it a technical sport.
Is bowling still a popular sport?
Bowling remains a very popular participation sport worldwide. Over 100 million people go bowling at least once per year globally. Competitive bowling leagues and tournaments also retain a strong following. However, professional bowling suffers from declining TV ratings and sponsorship revenue compared to its peak.
Is bowling considered a winter sport?
No, bowling is considered a summer sport. It is played indoors on enclosed lanes so the season does not matter. The only relation bowling has to winter is that some regions have winter bowling leagues due to less busy schedules. But bowling itself is not a winter Olympic or cold weather sport.
Is Pickleball an Olympic sport?
No, pickleball is not currently an Olympic sport. However, pickleball is growing rapidly in popularity, especially in the United States, so there are campaigns to try to make it part of a future Summer Olympics. For now, it remains just a popular recreational activity.
