2010 Toulon, France

Over 90 countries have signed up to participate in the 46th QubicaAMF Bowling World Cup which will be held from October 16th to 23rd in Toulon on the French Riviera.

Among those is the world’s newest country of Kosovo, recognised by the USA and most of the European Union countries. The Director of Bo Bowling in Kosovan city of Prishtine, Fitim Fazliu, is clearly delighted and commented: “Participating in the QubicaAMF Bowling World Cup will be a huge highlight for our bowling industry, sport and for our country.”

Among the bowlers so far nominated will be two former champions :
• Michael Schmidt of Canada won in Ljubljana, Slovenia, in 2005, and has never finished lower than 4th. This will be his fifth appearance in the event.
• Ann Maree Putney from Australia will be competing for the 9th time, having won in St Petersburg, Russia, in 2007

Paul Trotter who holds the record for a three game set of 896 set in 2002, will be back again, representing Australia, while our female runner up in 2005, Fiona Banks, will again be representing England. The USA will be sending 22-year-old John Szczerbinski, from North Tonawanda, New York and Carolyn Dorin-Ballard, named as Bowling Journal International’s Bowler of the Decade earlier this year. Marin Tranier will again be representing New Caledonia, for the 13th time.

Anne-Marie Board, QubicaAMF Bowling World Cup Manager, commented: “This could turn out to be a record entry for the Bowling World Cup, and I am sure all the participants will thoroughly enjoy the hospitality of the south of France. I am particularly looking forward to welcoming the players from Kosovo, and all those who will be coming back to our event.”

The external and internal renovations to Bowling de Provence, where the event will be held, will shortly be completed and the new look centre will be officially reopened on 10th September.

For the first time, bowlers, coaches, officials and guests will live in an Olympic-style village with evening entertainment and a holiday atmosphere.

Fans around the world will again be able to get all the results and follow the scores on line during the tournament  by going to the website and clicking on the on-line scoring logo. Live streaming will also be available through the local TV network www.vartele.fr

The Bowling World Cup has been held twice before in France. The first occasion was in the early days, in 1967, at the Bowling de Paris, and the event returned in 1992, to Le mans, when the winners were the legendary Paeng Nepomuceno of the Philippines and Germany’s Martina Beckel. France has won the title just once when Philippe Dubois won in 1979 in Bangkok, Thailand.
The winners last year, when the tournament was held in Melaka, Malaysia, were Choi Yong-Kyu of Korea and Caroline LaGrange of Canada.