Historic bid for world stage

Above: From left: Cr Jim Moloney, Mayor Peter Flannery, Bowls Queensland President Brian Marshall, junior bowler Damon Bartholomeusz , Jackaroo para player Damien Delgado, Jackaroo coach Karen Murphy, World Bowls President Brett O’Riley, Bowls Australia CEO Matthew Kennedy and Bowls QLD CEO Brett Wilkie.

Club Pine Rivers is to host a historic international match as part of the bid for bowls to be in the 2032 Brisbane Olympic and Paralympic Games.

The Australian Jackaroos will face Rest of the World in a showcase encounter on the Bray Park greens on Wednesday October 29, during BPL22.

It will be broadcast live across Fox Sports, Kayo, Sky Sport New Zealand, YouTube and international partners.

Club Pine Rivers CEO Steve Ratcliffe said the new concept will add an “exciting twist” to the “already popular and innovative” BPL, which the Sparks Road club has hosted for 12 years.

“Here at Club Pine Rivers we put a big focus on growing the sport of bowls,” Mr Ratcliffe said.

“We are lucky to be a part of a sport that is so inclusive and would love to see it broadcast on a world stage at the Olympics here in Brisbane in 2032.”

Teams for the international were announced at Club Pine Rivers yesterday with the Jackaroos to be coached by Bowls Australia Hall of Fame legend Karen Murphy AM.

Her team is Aaron Wilson, the back-to-back Commonwealth Games singles gold medallist, dual 2022 Commonwealth gold winner Ellen Fife and Damien Delgado, the 2023 World Championships para men’s pairs gold medallist.

Rest of the World will be coached by New Zealand’s Selena Goddard, Chair of the World Bowls Athletes Commission and World Bowls Series’ fifth ranked female.

Her team is Gary Kelly (Ireland), the 2023 World Championship men’s pairs gold medallist, Kelly McKerihen (Canada) a former world number one, and Julie O’Connell (New Zealand) the 2023 World Championship para women’s singles gold medallist.

During the announcement, World Bowls President Brett O’Riley unveiled the Bowls for Brisbane 2032 campaign logo.

Bowls Australia CEO Matthew Kennedy also launched the Become a Bowls for Brisbane 2032 Barracker campaign, urging bowlers and clubs to sign up.

"This is about showing the global sporting community bowls is ready for the Olympic and Paralympic stage,"Mr Kennedy aid.

"It’s inclusive, it’s competitive, and a sport that genuinely brings generations together."

"By becoming a Barracker, every bowler has a chance to be part of this movement. The louder our collective voice, the stronger our case for Brisbane 2032."

World Bowls says the campaign will continue in November, with a second international match in Malaysia at the 2025 World Cup.

For more information and to become a Barracker click here