Channel NewsAsia - Wednesday,
October 3
World bowling
body FIQ to move headquarters to Singapore
SINGAPORE : The world governing body for bowling, FIQ (Federation
International des Quilleurs), will soon move its headquarters from
the Philippines to Singapore.
This was confirmed by Jessie Phua, who recently assumed the
presidency of FIQ. She is the first Singaporean to head a world
sports body.
Phua also outlined her plans, such as getting bowling into the
Olympics.
The recent Singapore Open saw, for the first time, bowling lanes
set up in a shopping centre.
Bringing the sport to the people is just one of the many ways to
increase the sports visibility, according to Phua.
But now as president of the world body, she is thinking bigger
like a world bowling series.
It will consist of six to eight tournaments, involving the three
major zones namely the US, Europe and Asia.
And the prize money is a whopping US$150,000 per tournament.
The series will also help unite the three regions.
Singapore is expected to host the finale, but Phua has other plans,
such as setting up the world secretariat here, manned by
professionals who will drive the world bowling series.
The Singapore Sports Council and EDB (Economic Development Board)
are also supportive of the move.
"As a world body, the requirements are going to be much more
demanding especially if we have a thriving bowling scene from
January to December. We definitely need credible (and) efficient
staff to make sure that everything is well run," said FIQ President
Phua. She is also the president of Singapore Bowling
Federation.
The Olympics is the ultimate glory, and the world bowling series is
expected to help with that goal.
Other plans on her agenda include getting bowling reinstated into
the Commonwealth Games and expanding the sport into the African and
Oceania regions. CNA /ls
