2008 Men's World Championships begin with spectacular Opening Ceremonies
08/21/08
The Men's World Championships 2008 are officially under way after one of the most colorful opening ceremonies in the history of the sport of tenpin bowling held at the host bowling center, SF Strike Bowl Ngamwongwan in Nonthaburi, Bangkok, Thailand, on Thursday evening.
Click on the image to enlarge it.
Thailand, the "Land of the Smiles" is not only known for its beautiful numerous sightseeing places and exotic locations but also for its highly refined classical music and dance and for a wide range of folk arts and what a display it was.
The program mixed Thailand's ancient history and culture with elements showcasing the modern face of the country.
After the Masters of the Ceremonies (pictured above right) have welcomed all the guests and the audience His Majesty, the King of Thailand, was honored in an act named "Bowling with all hearts to love the King" (pictured left).
Flowers tray were brought out and placed in front of the picture of the King and athletes from Prachanivet School marched in with candles and were joined by ten Armed Forces academy students.
Mr. Sompan Charuminlinda (pictured right), the President of Thai Tenpin Bowling Association (TTBA), opened the cone and gave respect to the King. The candles were enlightened and were spread among the audience while the Police Band played the song "Sadudee Maharacha".
Before the start of the ceremonies, the MC introduced the head of the organizing committee, Mrs. Suwalai Satrulee (pictured right), and the committee of the TTBA spearheaded by its president Charuminlinda.
After some music by the two bands - the police band and the band of Prachanivet School - the Armed Forces academy students marched in with the flags (pictured left) representing the 57 participating countries. The traditional parade of the 336 athletes plus coaches followed.
Team USA entered 54th and featuring four PBA Player of the year, Walter Ray Williams Jr. (1986, 93, 96, 97, 98, 2003), Patrick Allen (2005), Tommy Jones (2006) and Chris Barnes (2008), last season's Rookie of the Year Rhino Page and amateur Bill Hoffman, who rolled a 300 game in the team event on Team USA's way to capture the gold medal at the MWC 2006 in Korea.
L-R Barnes, Allen, Williams, Hoffman, Jones and Page. Click on the image to enlarge it.
Among the Finnish team is 8-time PBA champion Mika Koivuniemi (right, with team mate Petteri Salonen), the PBA Player of the Year 2004, which means that five of the last six PBA Player of the Year are here in Bangkok.
Amleto Monacelli, a 19-time PBA champion and the first non U.S. player, who was elected into the PBA Hall of Fame (1997), was denied his bid to bowl for his country in 2008 MWC by the Venezuelan Bowling Federation.
Japan and Korea, the only other countries with professional bowling tours, have sent amateurs only to the championships.
The National Anthem of Thailand was followed by a short address of TTBA president Sompan Charumilinda and Mr. Kevin Dornberger, President of World Tenpin Bowling Association (WTBA).
Dornberger (right) thanked the organizers for their hard work and the athletes for training and coming to the event. Dornberger emphasized that for the first time in the history of the sport the best athletes - amateurs and professionals - are allowed to participate and he praised the WTBA delegates for the change in WTBA legislation which made this possible.
Thai bowler Peumpoon Yakasem (left picture, center), a two-time gold medalist in the 24th Southeast Asian (SEA) Games took the Player's Oath.
The Guest of Honor Mr. Weerasak Kohsurat (right), Minister of Tourism and Sport, who attended the ceremonies although the Olympics take place at the same time, held a short welcome speech in which he declared the championships open.
The athletes and coaches were asked to be seated and the second part of the Opening Ceremonies - an almost 50minute long show displaying the Thai culture in several different acts - started immediately.
The First act was called "Klong Yao Sanun Lar" featuring 40 (tomtom) drummers and actors from Patravadee Theatre. Next was the four-part "Puppet Show" in which the dancers act like a puppet to display the culture of Thailand in four parts.
The last part of the Opening Ceremonies for the Men's World Championships 2008 was to "gain courage and enjoyment" for the athletes by the cheer leaders team from Rungsit University, who came to say "Good luck for all of you".
This was the end of the show and the Opening Ceremonies. If the sport will be as good as the show, many records will be broken during the nine days of competition.
The action will start on Friday morning at 9 a.m. with the first of five squads Doubles on short oil. Among the favorites are Page/Allen, Williams/Barnes and Jones/Hoffman as well as defending world champions Robert Andersson and Martin Larsen, who are trying to extend Sweden's winning streak of four consecutive wins in this discipline, yet with different partners.
2008 MWC
SF Strike Bowl Ngamwongwan in Nonthaburi, Thailand (August 20-31, 2008)
The Men's World Championships 2008 are officially under way after one of the most colorful opening ceremonies in the history of the sport of tenpin bowling held at the host bowling center, SF Strike Bowl Ngamwongwan in Nonthaburi, Bangkok, Thailand, on Thursday evening. Click on the image to enlarge it.
Thailand, the "Land of the Smiles" is not only known for its beautiful numerous sightseeing places and exotic locations but also for its highly refined classical music and dance and for a wide range of folk arts and what a display it was. The program mixed Thailand's ancient history and culture with elements showcasing the modern face of the country.
After the Masters of the Ceremonies (pictured above right) have welcomed all the guests and the audience His Majesty, the King of Thailand, was honored in an act named "Bowling with all hearts to love the King" (pictured left). Flowers tray were brought out and placed in front of the picture of the King and athletes from Prachanivet School marched in with candles and were joined by ten Armed Forces academy students.
Mr. Sompan Charuminlinda (pictured right), the President of Thai Tenpin Bowling Association (TTBA), opened the cone and gave respect to the King. The candles were enlightened and were spread among the audience while the Police Band played the song "Sadudee Maharacha". Before the start of the ceremonies, the MC introduced the head of the organizing committee, Mrs. Suwalai Satrulee (pictured right), and the committee of the TTBA spearheaded by its president Charuminlinda. After some music by the two bands - the police band and the band of Prachanivet School - the Armed Forces academy students marched in with the flags (pictured left) representing the 57 participating countries. The traditional parade of the 336 athletes plus coaches followed.
Team USA entered 54th and featuring four PBA Player of the year, Walter Ray Williams Jr. (1986, 93, 96, 97, 98, 2003), Patrick Allen (2005), Tommy Jones (2006) and Chris Barnes (2008), last season's Rookie of the Year Rhino Page and amateur Bill Hoffman, who rolled a 300 game in the team event on Team USA's way to capture the gold medal at the MWC 2006 in Korea. L-R Barnes, Allen, Williams, Hoffman, Jones and Page. Click on the image to enlarge it.
Among the Finnish team is 8-time PBA champion Mika Koivuniemi (right, with team mate Petteri Salonen), the PBA Player of the Year 2004, which means that five of the last six PBA Player of the Year are here in Bangkok. Amleto Monacelli, a 19-time PBA champion and the first non U.S. player, who was elected into the PBA Hall of Fame (1997), was denied his bid to bowl for his country in 2008 MWC by the Venezuelan Bowling Federation.
Japan and Korea, the only other countries with professional bowling tours, have sent amateurs only to the championships.
The National Anthem of Thailand was followed by a short address of TTBA president Sompan Charumilinda and Mr. Kevin Dornberger, President of World Tenpin Bowling Association (WTBA). Dornberger (right) thanked the organizers for their hard work and the athletes for training and coming to the event. Dornberger emphasized that for the first time in the history of the sport the best athletes - amateurs and professionals - are allowed to participate and he praised the WTBA delegates for the change in WTBA legislation which made this possible.
Thai bowler Peumpoon Yakasem (left picture, center), a two-time gold medalist in the 24th Southeast Asian (SEA) Games took the Player's Oath. The Guest of Honor Mr. Weerasak Kohsurat (right), Minister of Tourism and Sport, who attended the ceremonies although the Olympics take place at the same time, held a short welcome speech in which he declared the championships open. The athletes and coaches were asked to be seated and the second part of the Opening Ceremonies - an almost 50minute long show displaying the Thai culture in several different acts - started immediately. The First act was called "Klong Yao Sanun Lar" featuring 40 (tomtom) drummers and actors from Patravadee Theatre. Next was the four-part "Puppet Show" in which the dancers act like a puppet to display the culture of Thailand in four parts. The last part of the Opening Ceremonies for the Men's World Championships 2008 was to "gain courage and enjoyment" for the athletes by the cheer leaders team from Rungsit University, who came to say "Good luck for all of you".
This was the end of the show and the Opening Ceremonies. If the sport will be as good as the show, many records will be broken during the nine days of competition. The action will start on Friday morning at 9 a.m. with the first of five squads Doubles on short oil. Among the favorites are Page/Allen, Williams/Barnes and Jones/Hoffman as well as defending world champions Robert Andersson and Martin Larsen, who are trying to extend Sweden's winning streak of four consecutive wins in this discipline, yet with different partners.