Keglers feats stir up old clamor

The streak of victories by the Filipino bowlers on the global stage has revived calls for the inclusion of the sport in the Olympic Games calendar, 16 years after Arianne Cerdeña bagged the gold when bowling was introduced as a demonstration sport in the 1988 Seoul Games.

But Philippine Bowling Congress head Steve Hontiveros, also the president of the International Bowling Federation, said it would be difficult at this stage of the Filipinos’ amazing campaign in the international front to lobby for the sport again. What he wants to pursue is to first bring together all the bowling groups and unite them under the World FIQ.

"At the moment, the thrust of Steve’s presidency is to unify all bowling groups under the World FIQ because in the past, it’s politics-ridden," said Danny Santos, acting secretary-general of the World FIQ. "Then, we will pick it up from there."

This includes Hontiveros’ forthcoming meeting with the president of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) — Dr. Jacques Rogge in Lausanne, Switzerland. In his capacity as FIQ president, Hontiveros has been invited by the Association of Recognized International Sports Federations to a meeting next month where he is expected to be introduced to Rogge.

"Hopefully, we will take it one step at a time and do some exploratory talks because it is still too early to push for the inclusion of bowling," said Hontiveros.

The IOC ruled that there would be no new sports to be introduced after the Sydney Games in 2000, subsequently shooting down the bids of bowling, wushu, billiards, dance sports — sports where Filipinos are considered strong and could be world contender.

And if ever there would be talks for new sports to be added to the existing Olympic calendar, it will be for the 2012 Games.

"Yun nga ang nakakahinayang. Of course, every athletes’ dream is to compete in the Olympics," said Liza del Rosario, just a few hours after arriving from Singapore where she led the sweep of Team Philippines of the Aviva Asian Bowling Tour Grand Slam Finals.

It was the latest of the Filipino bowlers’ triumphs on the world stage following CJ Suarez’s conquest of last year’s World Cup in Honduras and the record-setting victory by the troika of Cecilia Yap, Liza Clutario and Del Rosario in the World FIQ Championships, the first by Asians, in Kuala Lumpur.

"Lagi nga namin kinukumusta si Mr. Hontiveros regarding that matter. Basta ang pangako niya sa amin ila-lobby niya ang inclusion ng bowling sa Olympics," added Del Rosario, named as the best female Asian bowler in 2003.