Cyprus on the world bowls map

PAPHOS will hold the 2011 Atlantic World Bowls Championship, securing the town as one of the top bowls destinations in Europe.

“We were approached by the world bowls association who had been very impressed with our greens and the facilities in Paphos,” said Norris Forster PR executive officer for Bowls Cyprus

The seventh European Bowling Union team championships, which takes place every two years were recently held in Paphos.

Union officials were in the coastal town during this period, and Forster said they were very impressed by the venue and the commendable views of the players."

Forty-two countries are involved in World Bowls, and often the greens and rinks are situated a considerable distance away from where the players are staying.

"This can be very tedious if the weather is wet or very hot, or players need a rest," said Forster.

"The Athena Beach and the Athena Royal hotels in Ppahos, have a great set up, and players are very keen to play there. In addition, world bowls must be seen to be rotating venues across the world."

The event will be in 2011, as the governing body work on schedules two years in advance.

The Atlantic Championships, embracing Europe, Africa, and North and South Americas is one of the two qualifying events for entry into the World Bowls Championships. The second event is the Asia-Pacific Championships covering the Far East, Australia and New Zealand.

According to Forster, the National Governing Body of flat green bowling in Cyprus - Bowls Cyprus- and the Constantinou Brothers Hotels, who own both Paphos venues are "extremely" pleased by the announcement from World Bowls that the Atlantic Championships will be held in Paphos.

In addition to this piece of good news, the joint body of Bowls Cyprus and Constantinou Brothers Hotels, have also been invited by the World Bowls Committee to submit a bid for the World Champion of Champions Tournament, due to take place in 2012.

"This is where men and ladies compete with the best player from each country taking part.” He added, “Our ladies team are doing very well at the moment and qualified for the next big championships to be held in Australia."

Two women and two men represented Cyprus at the last Atlantic championships to qualify, playing singles and mixed pairs. Sixteen teams competed, including Cyprus, England, Wales, Guernsey, Holland, Ireland, Israel, Spain, Scotland and Portugal. President of Bowls Cyprus Linda Ryan, heads the women’s team, who successfully qualified.

The Athena was chosen to host the competition because of its facilities. “They’ve undergone tremendous upgrading and increased what’s on offer,” Ryan says. “They’ve gone to a lot of expense to attract bowls tourists."

Bowlers in Cyprus are also determined to take the national team further, by competing in the 2010 Commonwealth Games in New Delhi, India.

"We are waiting to get the go ahead for this from the Commonwealth Games and Olympic Commission in Nicosia," said Forster.

Source: Cyprus Mail