Hong Kong welcomes 2018 World Bowling Men's Championships
November 24, 2018
HONG KONG - With a history that spans more than 1,000 years, a traditional lion dance helped kick off the 2018 World Bowling Men's Championships on Saturday.
Hundreds of competitors, coaches, supporters and bowling fans at the South China Athletic Association Bowling Centre were treated to a colorful and festive performance that served as both entertainment and an offering of good luck to bowlers from 47 countries.
The formal opening ceremony also included the procession of teams, warm welcomes and well-wishes from local and industry dignitaries and the reciting of the oaths for players and officials.
Prior to the lion dance, dignitaries performed a traditional eye-dotting blessing. The eye dotting is believed to bestow the lion with life and vigor, and it is the last step before the lion comes alive.
Competition at this year's World Men's Championships starts Sunday at 9 a.m. (Saturday at 8 p.m. Eastern) with the first of four singles squads. Singles qualifying will take place over two days. All competitors will bowl six games, before field is cut to the top four for the semifinals.
The more than 260 competitors at the event will compete for medals in singles, doubles, trios, team, all-events and Masters competition. The tournament will conclude Dec. 5.
The 47 countries scheduled to participate this year in Hong Kong are:
Afganistan, Australia, Belarus, Bermuda, Canada, China, Colombia, Costa
Rica, Denmark, Democratic People's Republic of North Korea, England,
Finland, France, Germany, Guam, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Iran, Ireland,
Israel, Italy, Japan, Korea, Kuwait, Latvia, Lithuania, Macau (China),
Malaysia, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Peru, Philippines, Poland,
Romania, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Scotland, Singapore, South Africa, Spain,
Sweden, Chinese Taipei, Thailand, United States, United Arab Emirates
and Uzbekistan.
All qualifying rounds at the 2018 World Men's Championships will be livestreamed by World Bowling, while all medal rounds will be broadcast to the United States and Canada by FloBowling. A FloBowling subscription will be required to watch the medal rounds.
Team USA will be represented by three defending team champions - Chris Barnes of Double Oak, Texas; Jakob Butturff of Tempe, Arizona; and Tommy Jones of Simpsonville, South Carolina - and a trio of World Championships first-timers, which includes recently named Professional Bowlers Association Player of the Year Andrew Anderson of Holly, Michigan; EJ Tackett of Huntington, Indiana; and Kyle Troup of Taylorsville, North Carolina.
Barnes and Jones also are the defending champions in the doubles event.
For more information on the 2018 World Men's Championships or to follow the scores, visit 2018wmc.worldbowling.org.
Hundreds of competitors, coaches, supporters and bowling fans at the South China Athletic Association Bowling Centre were treated to a colorful and festive performance that served as both entertainment and an offering of good luck to bowlers from 47 countries.
The formal opening ceremony also included the procession of teams, warm welcomes and well-wishes from local and industry dignitaries and the reciting of the oaths for players and officials.
Prior to the lion dance, dignitaries performed a traditional eye-dotting blessing. The eye dotting is believed to bestow the lion with life and vigor, and it is the last step before the lion comes alive.
Competition at this year's World Men's Championships starts Sunday at 9 a.m. (Saturday at 8 p.m. Eastern) with the first of four singles squads. Singles qualifying will take place over two days. All competitors will bowl six games, before field is cut to the top four for the semifinals.
The more than 260 competitors at the event will compete for medals in singles, doubles, trios, team, all-events and Masters competition. The tournament will conclude Dec. 5.
The 47 countries scheduled to participate this year in Hong Kong are:
Afganistan, Australia, Belarus, Bermuda, Canada, China, Colombia, Costa
Rica, Denmark, Democratic People's Republic of North Korea, England,
Finland, France, Germany, Guam, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Iran, Ireland,
Israel, Italy, Japan, Korea, Kuwait, Latvia, Lithuania, Macau (China),
Malaysia, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Peru, Philippines, Poland,
Romania, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Scotland, Singapore, South Africa, Spain,
Sweden, Chinese Taipei, Thailand, United States, United Arab Emirates
and Uzbekistan. All qualifying rounds at the 2018 World Men's Championships will be livestreamed by World Bowling, while all medal rounds will be broadcast to the United States and Canada by FloBowling. A FloBowling subscription will be required to watch the medal rounds.
Team USA will be represented by three defending team champions - Chris Barnes of Double Oak, Texas; Jakob Butturff of Tempe, Arizona; and Tommy Jones of Simpsonville, South Carolina - and a trio of World Championships first-timers, which includes recently named Professional Bowlers Association Player of the Year Andrew Anderson of Holly, Michigan; EJ Tackett of Huntington, Indiana; and Kyle Troup of Taylorsville, North Carolina.
Barnes and Jones also are the defending champions in the doubles event.
For more information on the 2018 World Men's Championships or to follow the scores, visit 2018wmc.worldbowling.org.