Bowling clubs to host long roll as sport ramps up Olympic Games bid

OCEAN Shores Country Club will host a key lawn bowls showcase event aimed at strengthening the sport’s bid for inclusion in the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

The travelling event, known as The Long Roll, will arrive at the club on Thursday, 7 May as part of the national Bowls for Brisbane campaign led by Bowls Australia.

The initiative will see a single match played in stages across 32 venues across NSW and Queensland.

At each stop, the highlight will see a makeshift Australian team formed with local bowlers to take on a rest of the world contingent.

Ocean Shores bowls coordinator Joanne Fisher said the club was honoured to be selected as a host venue.

“It’s a bit of a once-in-a-lifetime type of event and we’re very fortunate to be one of the host clubs,” she said.

“It will be a great way to showcase our facilities; we have a spectacular view and high-quality greens.

“It’s an ideal spot to host an event like this. Bowls Australia might even have some more surprises on the day in terms of who they might have with them.”

“The club is a special place for our bowlers, and we would encourage everyone to come down, meet the people playing and enjoy the facility.”

The Long Roll mirrors the concept of an Olympic torch relay, with a single bowl travelling between clubs by various means, symbolising the journey from the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games to Brisbane’s hosting of the 2032 Games.

Along the Northern Rivers stretch, the event will also visit Yamba Bowling Club and Cherry Street Sports Club on Wednesday, 6 May, before heading to Ocean Shores and Club Tweed the following day.

Bowls Australia chief executive Matthew Kennedy said the initiative was a vital step in showcasing the sport’s national footprint.

“The Long Roll will showcase just how big the sport is and how passionate bowlers are across Australia when it comes to its growth,” he said.

“This is a mightily important activity in the sport’s push to be a part of Brisbane 2032, and we thank everyone involved, from the elite to the grassroots levels, for their work and enthusiasm.”