Why bowling is not an Olympic Sport?

[pdx_bowler]

I read that bowling is practiced the world over and is the single most participated sport in America with over 6o million players. Why then is bowling not an Olympic Event?

[KAJMK]

Here are two articles I found:

http://www2.insidenova.com/sports/2010/ ... ar-432367/
http://bowler2bowler.wordpress.com/2010 ... lding-iii/

See Sports within http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Olympic_Games look for "criteria".

[KAJMK]

I've been away from bowling for about 5 1/2 years. I have barely even watched telecasts but have recorded a bit.
Be that as it may, I was looking to clear some space on the Direct TV DVR (yes I should buy a stand alone disk)
I inadvertently deleted the Kelly Kulick TOC victory which I'd never viewed - shame on me!!

Back on topic, I started deleting the PBA team showdowns but thought I'd start watching some of the later ones.
In the first one I watched, I saw perhaps a few possible reasons. Two words emerge, perception and knowledge.
To an extent, the rationale to get a sport into the olympics is to some degree subjective.
One of the references I mentoned in the prior post mentioned that baseball is not an olympic sport and there is no doubt or argument that I'm aware of concerning whether or not baseball is a sport.

Items 1-3 occurred to me while watching a PBA All Star Shootout
1) Knowledge of the game and the variables of the bowling environment, many who play the game are lacking, how much more the unititiated? There's a myriad of misconceptions that are the sons and daughters of ignorance of the game, to wit a spate of 10 pin leaves of diferent ilks ...
2) The luck factor, the vagaries of pin action. Belmo's conversion of the 124-10 via a light hit of the headpin and a wicked messenger, Brian Kretzers trip 5 for a strike
3) Wrist devices.
4) Bowling Ball Technology is too important a factor. Think about the first time you rolled a "cheater ball".
I remember my reaction, "Wow, I can't do that!". Now many of us know that it's not just the ball and that the laneman can shut out many a skilled bowler. That has always been true even in the rubber ball days. Nonetheless, the ball technology is a hurdle.

Bowling would probably need a series of educational shows to prep the audience

Well perhaps something I said or did not say will prompt a reaction

An excerpt from - http://multimedia.olympic.org/pdf/en_report_668.pdf from http://registration.olympic.org/en/faq
Of the top of my head, I do not see anything here that by rule precludes bowling from qualifying. It would seem then that one would have to be privy to the rationale applied.

Criteria for being an Olympic sport
In order to be included on the Olympic programme, a summer sport must fulfil, amongst
others, the following conditions:
– it must be widely practised (by men, in 75 countries on four continents;
by women, in 40 countries and on three continents);
– the World Anti-Doping Code must be applied;
– it must not rely on mechanical propulsion (such as a motor).
Today, a winter sport must be widely practised in at least 25 countries and on three continents
in order to be included on the programme. No distinction is made between men and
women’s events.
Summer Games sports
In Athens in 1896, nine sports were on the programme: athletics, cycling, fencing, gymnastics,
weightlifting, wrestling, swimming, tennis and shooting.
The Olympic programme has come a long way since then: some sports have been discontinued
(e.g. golf and polo); others were dropped and then reintroduced (e.g. archery and
tennis), while several new sports have been added (e.g. triathlon and taekwondo).
In Athens in 2004, the programme included the nine original sports plus a further 19:
rowing, badminton, baseball, basketball, boxing, canoe/kayak, equestrian sports, football,
handball, hockey, judo, modern pentathlon, softball, taekwondo, table tennis, archery,
triathlon, sailing and volleyball. A total of 301 events took place!

Happy Holidays to all!!!