Abu Dhabi to Host World Bowling Championships in 2014 & 2015

Abu Dhabi has been announced the host of two prestigious world tenpin bowling championships.

The capital of the United Arab Emirates is to stage the 2014 World Tenpin Bowling Association (WTBA) World Men’s Championship and the 2015 WTBA World Women’s Championship.

Abu Dhabi last hosted the WTBA World Championships in 1999 which are the pinnacle for professional tenpin bowlers from all over the globe. 

The 2014 and 2015 events will take place in late August or early September at the Khalifa International Bowling Centre in Zayed Sports City.

“We are very pleased to announce that Abu Dhabi will host back-to-back world championships,” said WTBA President Kevin Dornberger.

“A lot of people have fond memories of the UAE hosting the world championships in 1999, and we look forward to two more great events.”

The announcement is the latest achievement for Zayed Sports City which also hosted football’s FIFA Club World Cup for two years. The facility is managed by Global Spectrum. 

“We are very honoured and excited to have been selected as the host city for these fantastic championships which have global appeal,” said Barry Bremner, executive member of the Local Organising Committee (LOC) of the championships.

“Bowling is one of the most popular sports in Abu Dhabi and the Khalifa International Bowling Centre at Zayed Sports City is the perfect place to host world championships.

“With 40 international standard lanes and 1,000 retractable seats this is a world-class bowling facility.”

With the announcement of the 2014 and 2015 events, the schedule for the next four World Championships is set. Later this year, the WTBA world championships will make a debut in Cyprus, while the 2013 WTBA Men’s and Women’s World Championships will be conducted in Henderson, Nev.

The WTBA, which is made up of 115 bowling federations, governs the sport throughout the world.