Entries are starting to come in for the 42nd QubicaAMF Bowling World Cup in Caracas, Venezuela in November. The early news is that already there are two previous champions in the starting line up, Michael Schmidt from Canada and Peter Ljung from Sweden.

Michael will be attempting to become the first male bowler ever to win the title two years in a row and successfully defend the title he won in Ljubljana, Slovenia, last year. And 20 years after his victory in Copenhagen in 1986, Peter will be making a welcome return to the event.

Michael led the tournament in Ljubljana throughout and sealed his win with a victory over Or Aviram of Israel in the televised arena final, having averaged 232 over the 24 qualifying games.

Joining him in the Canadian team will be Veronica Lalande-Lapointe who also played in Ljubljana, finishing 31st.

Peter Ljung averaged 213 for the tournament to win the title in Copenhagen back in 1986 when he was just 19. He beat the famed Paeng Nepomuceno of the Philippines in the final 413 to 392 and also won the trophy for men’s high game with a 289.

Peter will be joined by Helen Johnsson, who reached the quarter-final in Ljubljana and won the award for high women’s game with a 299.

Peter commented: “We are both delighted to get this chance to compete in the QubicaAMF Bowling World Cup again. For me it is like a dream come true and I will be doing my best to win the title again after all these years.“

Another returner from last year’s event will be Frenchman Thierry Sacco. He finished 14th. Marylin Planchard will join him to represent France in the women’s section.

Ends.

Notes to Editors
The QubicaAMF Bowling World Cup has only been successfully defended once – by Australia’s Jeanette Baker-Finch. She won in 1982 in Scheveningen, Netherlands, and repeated the feat in 1983 in Mexico City. No man has ever won back-to-back titles.

Seven of the winners of the title have come from Canada, though the USA still leads with 14 individual wins.

The official logo for the 42nd QubicaAMF Bowling World Cup is now available. For a high resolution copy, please contact Anne-Marie Board.

The tournament will take place in the 40-lane centre in Mampote, just outside Caracas, from 4th to 10th November 2006. The centre, which was the venue for the 1983 FIQ Bowling World Championships, will be fully refurbished with the latest QubicaAMF equipment. It boasts magnificent facilities including excellent spectator viewing.

The event has the personal support of President Hugo Chavez and the Minister of Education and Sports, Prof. Aristobulo Isturiz. The Vice-Minister for Sport, Prof Eduardo Alvarez Camacho, who is also the President of the National Institute of Sports and President of the Venezuelan Olympic Committee, is heading up the local organising committee.

QubicaAMF Worldwide is the founder, organiser and principal sponsor of the Bowling World Cup. QubicaAMF Worldwide is one of the largest bowling products companies in the world. With worldwide headquarters near Richmond, Virginia, USA, and European headquarters in Bologna, Italy, the company manufactures a complete line of high-quality, innovative solutions for new and existing bowling and entertainment centres.