Throughout the Olympics, Page 2 writers (on ESPN.com) will argue the merits of including various sports in the Games. To qualify as an Olympic sport, an activity must be "widely practiced by men in at least 75 countries and on four continents, and by women in at least 40 countries and on three continents," according to Olympics officials. In other words, participation matters. So you'd think the sport with the second-highest rate of participation in the world would be a shoo-in for Olympic medal recognition, right? Nope. Bowling, which is practiced by over 100 million people in over 100 countries, has never gained official Olympic sanction. That needs to change…
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. 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.
336 of the best amateur bowlers from 57 countries plus some of the most decorated professional bowlers in the world are getting ready for the action at the 2008 Men's World Championship. The official practice started on Thursday morning at 9 a.m. local time with Squad 1. Squads 2 and 3 will follow at noon and 3 p.m. The championships will be officially declared open by Mr. Weerasak Kohsurat, Minister of Tourism and Sport, during the Opening Ceremonies scheduled for 7-9 p.m. this evening. The TTBA announced that all semifinals and the finals will be broadcasted live on Thai TV. 
A six-member Indian team to take part in the World Men’s Tenpin Bowling Championships to be held in Bangkok from August 21 to 31 was announced here on Monday, at an Executive Committee Meeting of the Tenpin Bowling Federation (India). Among the six selected are Tamil Nadu’s Rahul Solanki and P. Rajmohan. The World Championships, the first event in a packed calendar for the Indian bowlers, will be followed by the National Tenpin Bowling Team Championships, the AMF World Cup, the Commonwealth Tenpin Bowling Championships and the Asian Inter-City Championships. 
The Thai Tenpin Bowling Association (TTBA) will host the second Men's World Championship from August 21-31, 2008 at SF Strike Bowl Ngamwongwan. The 42-laner with AMF equipment is located on the 7th Floor of a shopping center in Nonthaburi, approx. 30 minutes away from down town Bangkok. As of today, 329 players from 57 countries will compete for gold, silver and bronze medals in six disciplines: Singles, Doubles, Trios, 5-player Team, All Events and Masters. Bowlingdigital will cover the event live from from Nonthaburi. 
Renan Zoghaib and Roberta Rodrigues won the 17th Brazil Open Cup QubicaAMF 2008 at Tiger Bowling Center Lanes in Sao Paulo, Brazil and will represent Brazil in the 44th QubicaAMF Bowling World Cup from November 7-15, 2008 in Hermosillo, Mexico. Zoghaib (l.) and Rodrigues (r.) led the men’s and women’s division after 18 games with 208.28 and 200.06 average, respectively, en route to earn the No. 1 seed for the five-player stepladder finals; a huge advantage as the No. 1 seed must be defeated twice to win the title.
Two years after helping lead the United States to its first men's team gold medal at the World Championships since 1971, Bill Hoffman of Columbus, Ohio, remembers it as if it was yesterday. Rolling a 300 in the second-to-last game does wonders for long-term memories. "That's the biggest highlight of my career," said Hoffman, a nine-year veteran of Team USA. "It really helped put the program where it needed to be - on top of the world. It's something our new team members can take pride in." Those "new" team members happen to be some of the best professional bowlers in the world. 
It will be an experienced team that will represent Canada at next week's men's world tenpin bowling championships in Thailand. Nine-time Team Canada member George Lambert IV, of Hamilton and seven-time Team Canada member Joe Ciach (pictured) of Mississauga will lead the Canadian contingent that will take on the best bowlers from 56 countries from August 21-31 in Bangkok. The competition, involving more than 300 players, will be held SF Strike Bowl, a 42-lane center in Ngamwongwan, 30 minutes away from downtown Bangkok.
Arguably the greatest rookie season in the history of the Denny's Professional Bowlers Association Tour almost never happened. Rhino Page of Topeka, KS, would likely still be an amateur this day if professionals still were ineligible to bowl in international competition. And he was OK with that. Fortunately for Page, he didn't have to play the "What if?" game as he'll continue his successful Team USA career at the upcoming World Tenpin Bowling Association Men's World Championships, scheduled for Aug. 22-30 in Bangkok, Thailand.
When Tommy Jones of Simpsonville, S.C., goes into battle with Team USA at the upcoming World Tenpin Bowling Association Men's World Championships, scheduled for Aug. 22-30 in Bangkok, Thailand, he knows one thing for sure. "None of us like to lose," said Jones, who is one of five professional bowlers representing Team USA. "Anytime we bowl anything, we want to win ... especially when you put those colors on. There will be a lot of people gunning for us. We just have to go over there, do our part and feed off each other. It will happen."
The guy to talk to, I was told, is "the kingpin of bowling."
Even though he feels he gets more credit than deserved, Patrick Allen (left) helped mentor fellow left-hander Rhino Page (right) to arguably one of the best rookie seasons in the history of professional bowling. Now Allen, a 10-time winner on the Denny's Professional Bowlers Association Tour, will have the chance to look to Page for tips and advice as he prepares to make his Team USA debut at the upcoming World Tenpin Bowling Association Men's World Championships, scheduled for Aug. 22-30 in Bangkok, Thailand.
When he said goodbye to his tenure on Team USA in 1998 for life as a professional bowler, Chris Barnes of Double Oak, Texas, wasn't sure if he would be able to represent his country on the world stage ever again. "I didn't think professionals would be allowed to compete without the Olympics attached to it," said Barnes, a member of Team USA from 1994 to 1998. Barnes, the reigning Denny's PBA Tour Player of the Year, is back on Team USA and will once again represent the United States at the upcoming WTBA Men's World Championships, scheduled for Aug. 22-30 in Bangkok, Thailand.
Bahrain will field six of its top national bowlers in the World Men's Championships in Nonthaburi, Thailand, later this month. The competition is sanctioned by the World Tenpin Bowling Association and Asian Bowling Federation. The kingdom's line-up of participants was confirmed yesterday by the Bahrain Bowling Association (BBA). They include a blend of young and veteran talents, namely Osama Khalfan, Ahmed Rahimi, Mohammed Janahi, Mohammed Sultan, Ahmed Al Bastaki, and Hameed Taqi. The kingdom is one of 56 nations taking part, which will feature close to 350 bowlers in all. 
With a career record 44 Professional Bowlers Association titles and being regarded as one of the greatest bowlers in history, it's hard to believe the trophy case of the legendary Walter Ray Williams Jr. still has a missing piece. "A gold medal at the World Championships would be cool," said Williams of Ocala, Fla. "It would definitely be one of the highlights of my career." Williams, a PBA and United States Bowling Congress Hall of Famer, will have the chance to fill that void when he makes his Team USA debut at the upcoming WTBA Men's World Championships scheduled for Aug. 22-30 in Bangkok, Thailand.
Team champion Aaron Kong (l.) from Malaysia captured his second gold medal in the 10th World Youth Championships in Orlando, when he swept Junior Team USA's Dean Richards (r.), three-games-to-none, to claim the title in the Boys Masters event. Richards, who earned the silver medal, eliminated Singles and All Events winner Dominic Barrett, England, in the semi-finals, 3-2. Kong eliminated Fredrik Tjernes, Norway, in the other semi-final match, 3-1, for the right to bowl for the title. Barrett and Tjernes shared the bronze medal. The Girls and Boys Masters concluded the competition at 80-lane Boardwalk Bowl. 
Korea's Jun Gwi Ae (l.) bested Daniela Alvarado (r.), Mexico, three-game-to-two en route to secure the gold medal in the Girls Masters event in an exciting final in the 10th World Youth Championships Thursday at Boardwalk Bowl in Orlando, Fla., USA. The Mexican, who shot the sole 300 game of the championship in the semi-final, fell in a 2-0 hole to Jun before posting two consecutive wins starting with a 279-248 in the third. The Korean, however, started the fifth and deciding game with the front seven and cruised to victory, 242-176. Tina Hulsch, Germany and Sandra Gongora, Mexico, shared the bronze medal. 
The Malaysian boys team became the sole No. 1 seed, who won the gold medal in the 10th World Youth Championships when they defeated equally tough Finland, 837-819, en route to claim the title in the Boys four-player team event Finland earned silver and the United States of America and Norway shared the bronze. Dominic Barrett (r.) of England played in his own class and easily won the gold medal in the boys All Events. Mads Sandbækken of Norway, took silver and Joonas Jehkinen of Finland captured bronze. 
Korea, the No. 4 seed in the finals of the girls four-player team event, defeated tournament leader Germany in the semi-finals and went on to beat #3 seeded Japan in the title match, 805-741, to claim the gold medal at the 10th World Youth Championships in Orlando, Fla. Japan erned the silver medal, while Germany and Singapore shared the bronze. Japan's Maki Nakano (r.) won the gold medal in All Events, with Tannya Roumimper of Indonesia in second and Colombia's Rocio Restrepo in third place. 