View source for World Tenpin Bowling Association

{{Multiple issues|
{{primary sources|date=July 2008}}
{{Original research|date=January 2016}} 
{{More footnotes|date=January 2016}}
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{{Infobox sporting event organization
|name         = World Tenpin Bowling Association
|abbreviation = World Bowling or WTBA
|formation    = 1952 <ref name="World Tenpin Bowling Association">{{cite web|title=History|url=http://www.worldbowling.org/about/history/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140825055414/http://www.worldbowling.org/about/history/|url-status=usurped|archive-date=August 25, 2014|website=World Bowling|publisher=World Tenpin Bowling Association World Tenpin Bowling Association|accessdate=30 January 2016}}</ref>
|headquarters = [[Helsinki]], [[Finland]]<ref name="Britannica Entry">{{cite web|last1=Pluckhahn|first1=J. Bruce|title=Bowling: International Competition|url=http://www.abf-online.org/results/news-jul02.htm|website=Britannica|publisher=Britannica|accessdate=30 January 2016}}</ref>
|leader_title=President
|leader_name  = Sheikh Talal Mohammed Al-Sabah<ref name="WTBA Press Release">{{cite web|last1=Tidbury|first1=Megan|title=Press release: Sheikh Talal Mohammed Al-Sabah to lead world bowling|url=https://www.bowling.no/dokumenter/?Id=6211|website=Norges Bowlingforbund|publisher=World Bowling|accessdate=30 January 2016}}</ref>
|website      = {{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20130717063305/http://worldbowling.org/ World Bowling]}}
}}
The '''World Tenpin Bowling Association''' is the world [[governing body]] of [[ten-pin bowling]], and one of the two sections of the [[International Bowling Federation]]. They promulgate and enforce playing rules and equipment specifications, [[WTBA World Tenpin Bowling Championships|conduct world championships]], oversee zone championships, and grant approval for other international tournaments.

The WTBA manages the [[World Bowling Tour]].

==History==

International bowling began during the 1930s under the International Bowling Federation. The attempt to unite all the bowlers in the world created ''Fédération Internationale des Quillers'' (FIQ) in 1952; the body renamed itself World Bowling in 2014.

==Worldwide Zones==
It is divided into the following geographical Zones:<ref>{{cite web
 | title = International Bowling Federation Geographical Zones
 | url = https://bowling.sport/federations/
 | website = International Bowling Federation
 | date = 
 | access-date = 2 April 2021 }}</ref>
*American Zone – Pan American Bowling Confederation which consists of North and South America
*Asian zone – Asian Bowling Federation which consists of Asia
*[[European Tenpin Bowling Federation]] which consists of Europe and Africa and governs the [[European Bowling Tour]] (similar to that of the [[Professional Bowlers Association]]'s Tour)
*African Zone – Bowling Federation of Africa 
*Oceania Zone – Oceania Bowling Federation which consists of Australia, Western Pacific

National organizations qualify to become WB member federations based on certain admission criteria. Currently, WB has 123 members. In some cases, the member represents only the Tenpin discipline or the Ninepin discipline. In other cases the member represents both disciplines.

The WB Presidium (similar to an Executive Committee) is responsible for legislative matters, membership fees, fiscal plans and general administration of WB programs. It also has authority to hear and determine disputes between WB members or between WB members and WTBA.

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
*{{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20130717063305/http://worldbowling.org/ WTBA official website]}}
*[http://www.bowlinglinks.de Bowlinglinks all over the World, sorted by categories]

{{Bowling}}
{{Ten pin bowling}}

[[Category:Bowling organizations]]


{{Sport-org-stub|date= January 2016}}