24 spots up for grabs for 8th World Games 2009 in Kaohsiung, Chinese Taipei

The World Games are a kind of "Olympic Games" for the most popular non-Olympic sports. Contested in the years following the Games of the Olympiad, the 8th World Games 2009 will be held in Kaohsiung, Chinese Taipei from July 16-26, 2009.

31 sports - Air Sport, Archery, Billiards, Bodybuilding, Boules Sports, Bowling, Canoe Polo, Climbing, DanceSport, Fin Swimming, Fistball, Flying Disc, Gymnastics, Ju-Jitsu, Karate, Korfball, Lifesaving, Orienteering, Powerlifting, Racquetball, Roller Sport, Rugby 7s, Squash, Sumo, Tug of War, Water Ski, Beach Handball, Dragon Boat, Softball, Tchoukball and Wushu - will hold their qualifying events for the 8th World Games.

Traditionally a medal sport in the World Games, the 3-day bowling competition will be held at Happy Bowling Alley in Kaohsiung from July 20-22.

24 spots are up for grabs, eight for each of the three FIQ/WTBA zones America, Asia and Europe. Each country will send one female and one male bowler to the Games who will compete for medals in three disciplines, Mixed Doubles and men's and women's Singles.

Each zone has its own qualifier to determine the eights spots for Kaohsiung:

Ron Froehlich, President of the International World Games Association (IWGA), has announced recently that the IWGA Executive Committee has decided that to return to Germany in 20013.

Pending ratification by the Annual General Meeting in June 2008, the 9th World Games will be held in two German cities, Duisburg and Duesseldorf. Duisburg was the host of the 2005 Games, which were a spectacular success.