http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/page2/story?page=lukas/080813The main reason bowling has not been included in the Olympics yet is largely due to a lack funding and political pull. As you can see from the article above, it fits all the requirements for it to be an Olympic sport! What gets me is that bowling requires a high level of athletic ability...of course, if you compare it to the equestrian events, bowling should win out in my opinion.
My main concern, however, is that if it does become an Olympic event, it may not last...depending on how it is run.
For instance, take a look at the women's softball. Since it was introduced as an Olympic sport, the USA has won gold - every time. Now that other countries have had no shot at taking a gold, it is being dropped from the Olympics...
Don't get me wrong when I introduce this idea, hear me out...
I don't think bowlers on the professional level should be allowed in the team events when it finally becomes an Olympic sport...The reason being that the US would give other countries no shot at team gold...
Now hold on! I am not giving a biased opinion - or making a joke about other countries...
Other countries have produced some of the best (if not the best) bowlers ever...
Finland has Mika Koivuniemi
Australia has Jason Belmonte
Great Britain has Paul Moor
...and the list could go on and on...even with great bowlers that have simply not had the same publicity.
However, the USA has the most top bowlers bowling on it's professional tour, on the conditions and in the situations that make them even better...
...in fact, the NBA is the equivalent to the American PBA (Professional Bowlers Association), the great players from around the world come to play in the best league for basketball, the NBA...and the same goes for the PBA!
So, I don't think that we should put ourselves in the same situation as women's softball and have bowling dropped for good later because the US walks in and takes all the golds. The US has enough young talent to compete and it would help build the youth programs across America if we used amateur bowlers for the team events.
As for the pros...if bowling also had a spot in the Olympics for singles and doubles events, I think it would work if we allowed the pros to bowl in those events...
What does everyone else think?
-T.J. Freeman
United States Bowling Congress
Silver Level Certified Coach
http://www.sparenoopportunity.com