Summary of international bowling administration 1922 – 1969.
This summary is based on extracts of articles published in the Swedish Bowling Federation’s magazine “Bowlaren” in the years 1922 – 1969. The document has been compiled by Rune Widell, ETBF Secretary General.
International Bowling Association (IBA)
How it all started
In May 1922 there was a telegraphic bowling match between Sweden and USA. The format of the match was:
5-men team, 2 games.
Doubles, 2 games.
Singles, 2 games.
The match was surprisingly won by Sweden, and a return match was immediately requested by USA. The second match was held in Sweden, and also this one was won by Sweden. It was then agreed that after three years Sweden would organise the first international tournament.
On 2 June 1926 the first “World Championships” were held in Stockholm, Sweden with participating teams from Finland, Germany, the Netherlands, Sweden, and USA.
Also on the 2 June 1926 there was a meeting between representatives of the participating countries. A unanimous agreement was reached that an international bowling organisation should be formed, and that its name should be International Bowling Association (IBA). The primary purpose of the organisation was declared to be to have bowling accepted as a sport in the Olympic Games.
An interim board of directors was appointed consisting of Joseph Thum, USA (President); Albin Öhngren, Sweden; Paul Schluck, Germany; H.C. Kleinschmit, the Netherlands; S. H:son Schneidler, Finland; and Captain Geo S. Jarret, USA. The primary task of this board would be to prepare a draft constitution, to be presented at the next meeting, which would be held in conjunction with the “championships” in 1929.
The hopes to get bowling into the Olympic Games 1928 were quickly dashed. On their way home from the meeting in Sweden, Joseph Thum and Geo Jarret met in Amsterdam with the IOC President, J.S. Edstrom, who gave them a negative answer.
Participants in the 1929 “World Championships” were teams from Denmark (a 3-lane centre had been opened in Copenhagen in January 1929), Finland, Germany, Sweden, and USA.
On 8 June 1929 there was a meeting with representatives of the participating countries. However, obvious results or decisions seem not to have reached at the meeting, probably because the enthusiasts Kleinschmidt and Ohngren had passed away since the previous meeting. Accordingly the IBA had to continue without a Constitution and common Playing Rules.
The organisation is formed
The next IBA meeting was held in 1933 in Frankfurt am Main, Germany. Before that meeting the President of the German federation, Paul Schluck, had prepared a statutes proposal, which had been sent to the member federations. However, full agreement could not be reached about the proposal, and it was decided to further discuss this important matter at the next meeting, in conjunction with the postponed “World Championships”, which would be held in 1934 in New York, USA.
Present at the meeting in 1934 were only representatives of Germany, Sweden, and USA. Sweden had a proxy from Finland, and Germany had proxies from Belgium, Czechoslovakia, and Switzerland. The statutes were accepted after a lengthy debate about the definition of amateur. The original definition presented by Germany would have excluded USA from IBA membership; however, a compromise was reached that was acceptable to all parties.
At the meeting Paul Schluck, Germany was elected as President; Eric Ahlström, Sweden 1st Vice President; Frank Siffert, USA 2nd Vice President; and Joseph Thum, USA Honorary President.
The years 1936 - 1952
Immediately prior to the Olympic Games 1936 in Berlin, Germany the IBA “World Championships” were held. At the meeting in conjunction with the championships Paul Schluck, Germany was re-elected as President; and Eric Ahlström as 1st Vice President. W. Landgraf, USA was elected 2nd Vice President, and T. Bombös, Germany was appointed secretary.
Because of the increased unsettlement in Europe and the outbreak of the second world war, it took a number of years before a new meeting could be held with the organisation.
The Honorary President, Joseph Thum, died in 1937, and following the death in 1942 of the elected President, Paul Schluck, the Presidency automatically was transferred to Eric Ahlström, Sweden. This was also confirmed at a meeting in August 1942 between Eric Ahlström, the new President of the German federation, Bernard Gebauer, and the Finnish Presidium member E. Peltonen. As new secretary was appointed Hans Berger, Sweden.
In June 1947 a meeting was organised in Stockholm, Sweden at which there were among others representatives from France and Czechoslovakia present. It was decided to hold the next championship in 1948 in Stockholm, Sweden; and also to form a provisional IBA section for asphalt (now: Classic) ninepin bowling.
In August 1947 the President, Eric Ahlström, passed away, and his duties were temporarily taken over by Karl Fredlund, Sweden.
The 1948 championships were cancelled due to very limited interest from USA to participate in a championship in Europe.
In May 1949 an extra IBA meeting decided to discontinue with the activities, however, the secretary, Hans Berger, was given the task to continue to keep in touch with the member federations. In the beginning of the 1950’s the situation in Europe had changed and there was again a growing interest for an increase of the sports activities, such as European championships and international matches.
On 27 January 1952, in conjunction with the international match between Germany and Sweden, the IBA organised an extra meeting to discuss the future of the organisation. At this meeting there were representatives present from Austria, Belgium, Finland, France, East-Germany, West-Germany, Luxembourg, Switzerland, Sweden, and Yugoslavia.
The main topics of the meeting were the possibilities to create interest for tenpin bowling in the traditional ninepin countries, how to create a better co-operation between Europe and USA and also the possibilities to involve the Latin-American and the South African countries. At a request from Yugoslavia the question on how to get tenpin bowling and ninepin asphalt into the Olympic Games was also discussed.
All representatives were of the firm opinion that the international organisation should include all four bowling sports, i.e. Tenpin Bowling, Ninepin Asphalt, Ninepin Bohle, and Ninepin Schere. However, as the statutes of IBA stated that it was an organisation only for tenpin bowling, the final result of the meeting was that a completely new organisation for the co-ordination of all four sports was formed. It was given the name Fédération Internationale des Quilleurs (FIQ). The FIQ should consist of four sections with common statutes, but with separate playing rules, tournament regulations, etc.
As members of the first FIQ Presidium were elected:
Heinz Kropp, Germany, President.
Leopold Hatzi, Austria, Section Asphalt.
Willi Stark, Germany, section Bohle.
Hans Berger, Sweden, Section Bowling.
Francois van Arkels, Belgium, Section Schere.
Following the decision to form an organisation covering all four sports there were no longer any conditions precedent for the continuation of the IBA, and the final decision to discontinue with the organisation was taken at a meeting in March 1952 in Stockholm, Sweden.
Fédération Internationale des Quilleurs (FIQ)
FIQ Congress Munich, Germany 1952
In the beginning of November 1952 the first FIQ Congress was held in Grünwald in the vicinity of Munich, Germany. There were representatives of 8 federations present. The main item of the agenda was the adoption of the FIQ Statutes.
It had been questioned whether it was justifiable to form the new organisation, and if tenpin bowling not had been subordinated the ninepin sports. The justification was said to be proven by the fact that there were already 12 federations, which were members, and that more were expected to join during the year.
It was also concluded that tenpin bowling and the three ninepin sports were sports- and organisation-wise at the same level, and it was therefore natural that they were given equal positions in the organisation.
Another important issue at the meeting was how the World Championships should be organised, and also if it was correct to name them World Championships and not European Championships, since the FIQ only consisted of federations from countries in Europe. Since the German representatives stated that their national federation included all four sports, they could not afford to participate in more than one championship per year, it was decided that the championships of each of the sports should be held in four-year intervals. The Congress decided that the first FIQ World Championships in Tenpin Bowling should be held in Finland 1954.
The Congress elected the following persons as Presidium:
Heinz Kropp, Germany, President.
Hans Berger, Sweden, Vice President and Chairman of Section Tenpin.
Ivan Krizanic, Yugoslavia, Chairman of Section Asphalt.
Francois van Arkels, Belgium, Chairman of Section Schere.
Willi Stark, Germany, Chairman of Section Bohle.
Kaukko Ahlström, Finland, Sports Director of Section Tenpin.
Leo Hatzi, Austria, Sports Director of Section Asphalt.
Emie Olsem, Belgium, Sports Director of Section Schere.
Paul Rabeneick, Germany, Sports Director of Section Bohle.
As auditors were elected Adolf Oesch, Switzerland, and René Weiss, France.
FIQ Congress Zürich, Switzerland 1953
The second FIQ Congress was held on 23 – 25 October in Zurich, Switzerland. All member federations were represented by a total of 32 delegates.
Czechoslovakia, East-Germany, and Hungary were accepted as new members.
The FIQ Statutes as well as the Playing Rules and Tournament Regulations for Section Tenpin were adopted. The regulations included the format of the World Championships as follows
a) 5-men team, 3 games, American playing style.
b) 2-men team, 6 games, European playing style.
c) 8-men team, 8 games, European playing style.
d) Individual 8 games for the 32 top players after the foregoing 17 games.
The next World Championships will be held on 8 – 12 June 1954 in Helsinki, Finland.
The Congress elected Ivan Krizanic, Yugoslavia, as new President, and re-elected the other Presidium members.
FIQ Congress Saarbrücken, Saarland 1955
The third FIQ Congress was held on 8 – 9 October 1955 in Saarbrücken, Saarland.
Present were delegates from the 12 countries Austria, Czechoslovakia, Finland, France, East-Germany, West-Germany, Hungary, Romania, Saarland, Switzerland, Sweden, and Yugoslavia.
Belgium and Spain were not represented.
The newly elected Presidium consisted of:
Adolf Oesch, Switzerland, President.
Kaukko Ahlström, Finland, Vice President and Chairman of Section Tenpin.
J. Smekai, Czechoslovakia, Chairman of Section Asphalt.
Willi Stark, West-Germany, Chairman of Section Bohle.
R. Schmeer, Saarland, Chairman of Section Schere.
Carl Norgren, Sweden, Sports Director of Section Tenpin.
Razek, Czechoslovakia, Sports Director of Section Asphalt.
Theisen, Saarland, Sports Director of Section Schere.
Büttner, East-Germany, Sports Director of Section Bohle.
As auditors were elected Horwat, Yugoslavia, and Rabeneick, West-Germany.
The Congress entrusted the Presidium to prepare regulations for lanes to be used at international competition; rules for acceptance of world records; FIQ flag to be hoisted at championships and congresses; FIQ logo; medals to be presented to the winners at championships.
FIQ Congress Vienna, Austria 1957
The fourth FIQ Congress was held on 9 – 12 June 1957 in Vienna, Austria.
The following rules for the tenpin World Championships were adopted:
a) The participation from each federation was limited to two 5-men teams, five 2-men teams, one 8-men team, and maximum 10 participants from each federation in the individual part of the championships.
b) Championship records to be noted for teams 5x3 games, 2x6 games, 8x8 games, as well as individually for 1, 6, 8, and 25 games.
c) Two practice balls to be allowed on the starting lanes, however, without pins.
d) Smoking, eating, or consuming alcoholic beverages prohibited during competition.
Election of Presidium:
Adolf Oesch, Switzerland, President.
Kaukko Ahlström, Finland, Vice President and Chairman of Section Tenpin.
J. Smekai, Czechoslovakia, Chairman of Section Asphalt.
Jansson, East-Germany, Chairman of Section Bohle.
Rabeneick, West-Germany, Chairman of Section Schere.
Carl Norgren, Sweden, Sports Director of Section Tenpin.
Razek, Czechoslovakia, Sports Director of Section Asphalt.
Harsum, West-Germany, Sports Director of Section Schere.
Büttner, East-Germany, Sports Director of Section Bohle.
FIQ Congress Leipzig, Germany 1959
The fifth FIQ Congress was held on 11 – 12 July 1959 in Leipzig, East-Germany.
Present were delegates from the 11 countries Austria, Czechoslovakia, Finland, France, East-Germany, West-Germany, Hungary, Romania, Sweden, Switzerland, and Yugoslavia.
Belgium, Denmark, Mexico, the Netherlands, Spain, and Venezuela were not represented.
The following schedule for the World Championships was agreed upon:
1959 Asphalt.
1960 Tenpin.
1961 Bohle and Schere.
1962 Asphalt.
1963 Tenpin.
The participation from each federation was limited to one 5-men team, four 2-men teams, one 8-men team, and maximum 8 participants from each federation in the individual part of the championships.
The FIQ championship-pin in gold, silver, and bronze respectively, should be awarded individually as well as for the team events.
Adolf Oesch, Switzerland was re-elected as President; Kaukko Ahlström, Finland was re-elected as Vice President and Chairman of Section Tenpin; Gregor Aminoff, Sweden was elected as Sports Director of Section Tenpin.
Latin-America and Europe?
In 1960 the leaders of the Latin-American bowling association (FIBA) expressed that it would be important for the further development of tenpin bowling world-wide to unite with Europe under the umbrella of FIQ.
The idea was to form a European zone consisting of the 17 FIQ member countries (Austria, Belgium, Czechoslovakia, Denmark, Finland, France, East-Germany, West-Germany, Hungary, Italy, the Netherlands, Portugal, Romania, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, and Yugoslavia); and an American zone consisting of the 11 FIBA member countries (Argentina, Colombia, Cuba, El Salvador, Guatemala, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Peru, Uruguay, and Venezuela).
FIQ Congress Strasbourg, France 1961
The sixth FIQ Congress was held on 8 – 9 July 1961 in Strasbourg, France.
Present were delegates from the 14 countries Austria, Belgium, Czechoslovakia, England, Finland, France, East-Germany, West-Germany, Hungary, Romania, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, and Yugoslavia.
11 new federations, all of them with tenpin bowling, were granted membership of FIQ (Chile, Columbia, Costa Rica, England, Guatemala, Italy, Panama, Peru, Portugal, Puerto Rico, and USA.
The FIQ Congress decided among other things that
• the official languages for congresses would be English, French, German and Spanish.
• a member federation would be allowed to carry only one proxy from another member federation.
• at World- and Regional championships the flags of all participating countries should be hoisted.
As FIQ Presidium members were elected:
Adolf Oesch, Switzerland, President.
Emilio de Miguel, Spain, and Herbert Mätmert, East-Germany, Vice Presidents.
Kaukko Ahlström, Finland, Chairman of Section Tenpin.
J. Ciklar, Czechoslovakia, Chairman of Section Asphalt.
G. Büttner, East-Germany, Chairman of Section Bohle.
Heinz Harsum, West-Germany, Chairman of Section Schere.
At the meeting with Section Tenpin, which was held after the FIQ Congress the World Championship rules were revised, and it was decided also to include championships for women.
World Championships for men consist of
a) Team of 5 players, 2x3 games, American style.
b) Team of 2 players, 6 games, American style.
c) Team of 8 players, 8 games, European style.
d) Individual 8 games, European style, for the 32 top players after the foregoing 20 games.
World Championships for women consist of
a) Team of 4 players, 2x3 games, American style.
b) Team of 2 players, 6 games, European style.
c) Individual 6 games, European style, for the 12 top players after the foregoing 12 games if the number of participants is less than 36, otherwise the 24 top players will qualify for the final.
The next World Championships will be held 1963 in Mexico.
The European championships for men should use the same format as in the World championships, however, in order to reduce the cost for the participating federations, the organiser may decide to replace the 8-men team, 8 games with 6-men team, 6 games.
The European championships for women should use the same format as the World championships for women.
As members of the Section Tenpin Presidium were elected:
Kaukko Ahlström, Finland, President.
Gregor Aminoff, Sweden.
Frank Baker, USA.
Emilio de Miguel, Spain.
Antonio Marcano, Venezuela.
FIQ Congress Budapest, Hungary 1963
The 7th FIQ Congress was held on 9 – 11 August 1963 in Budapest, Hungary.
Delegates of 16 federations were present and 7 proxies had been accepted.
The FIQ President reported that an application for bowling to be included in the Olympic Games had been submitted to IOC. The FIQ statutes and regulations had been reviewed by IOC and had been found to meet the requirements.
Brazil and Luxembourg had applied for FIQ membership.
As FIQ Presidium members were elected:
Adolf Oesch, Switzerland, President.
Emilio de Miguel, Spain, Vice President.
Herbert Mähnert, East-Germany, Vice President.
Frank Baker, USA, Vice President.
Kaukko Ahlström, Finland, Chairman of Section Tenpin.
J. Ciklar, Czechoslovakia, Chairman of Section Asphalt.
G. Büttner, East-Germany, Chairman of Section Bohle.
Heinz Harsum, West-Germany, Chairman of Section Schere.
At the meeting with Section Tenpin it was decided that future World Championships for women should consist of:
a) Team of 5 players, 2x3 games, American style.
b) Team of 2 players, 6 games, European style.
c) Individual 6 games, European style, for the 12 top players after the foregoing 12 games if the number of participants is less than 36, otherwise the 24 top players will qualify for the final.
FIQ Congress Stockholm, Sweden 1965
The 8th FIQ Congress was held on 13 July 1965 in Stockholm, Sweden.
Delegates of 16 federations (Austria, Czechoslovakia, England, Finland, France, East-Germany, West-Germany, Hungary, Italy, Japan, Romania, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, USA, and Yugoslavia) were present. Proxies were accepted from Costa Rica, Denmark, the Netherlands, Norway, Panama, Puerto Rico, and Venezuela.
Australia and El Salvador were accepted as new members of FIQ.
The Congress also decided that for a new pin sport to be adopted as a section of FIQ it had to be played in at least 8 countries.
As FIQ Presidium members were elected:
Adolf Oesch, Switzerland, President.
Gregor Aminoff, Sweden Vice President.
Herbert Mähnert, East-Germany, Vice President.
Frank Baker, USA, Vice President.
Kaukko Ahlström, Finland, Chairman of Section Tenpin.
J. Ciklar, Czechoslovakia, Chairman of Section Asphalt.
Kurt Scheermesser, East-Germany, Chairman of Section Bohle.
Heinz Harsum, West-Germany, Chairman of Section Schere.
As auditors were elected Maurice Glazer, England and René Weiss, France.
At the meeting with Section Tenpin the World Championship rules were revised with regard to the number of players. It was decided that each federation would have the right to enter 8 men and 6 women.
Due to problems with the building of a new bowling centre in Madrid, Spain it was decided to move the next World Championship from 1966 to 1967, and also that in the future the tenpin bowling championships should be held every fourth year.
With the purpose to intensify the work with bowling in the different parts of the world, and at the same time to create better international contacts, it was decided that the Section Tenpin should consist of three zones:
• European Zone
• American Zone
• Asian Zone
It was also concluded that African federations should be included in the European Zone, and that Australia belonged to the Asian Zone. Each Zone should elect its own Presidium consisting of President and four members.
The Presidium of Section Tenpin should as of 1966 consist of a President, elected by the Congress, plus the President and one Presidium member of each zone, all together 7 persons.
As members of the Section Tenpin Presidium were elected until the end of the year:
Kaukko Ahlström, Finland, President.
Gregor Aminoff, Sweden.
Frank Baker, USA.
Mato, Japan.
Antonio Marcano, Venezuela.
Maurice Glazer, England.
FIQ Congress Salzburg, Austria 1967
The 9th FIQ Congress was held on 13 July 1967 in Salzburg, Austria.
Delegates from 20 federations were present, and 5 proxies were accepted.
It had not been possible to get bowling into the Olympic Games in Mexico 1966, however, the work to have tenpin bowling and ninepin Asphalt accepted will continue.
Nicaragua and Singapore were accepted as member, which means that there are 39 countries affiliated.
The first FIQ Gold pin was awarded to Adolf Oesch, Switzerland.
As FIQ Presidium members were elected:
Adolf Oesch, Switzerland, President.
Gregor Aminoff, Sweden Vice President.
Herbert Mähnert, East-Germany, Vice President.
Frank Baker, USA, Vice President.
Kaukko Ahlström, Finland, Chairman of Section Tenpin.
Antonin Chilar, Czechoslovakia, Chairman of Section Asphalt.
Kurt Scheermesser, East-Germany, Chairman of Section Bohle.
Heinz Harsum, West-Germany, Chairman of Section Schere.
FIQ Congress Mamaia, Romania 1969
The 10th FIQ Congress was held on 28 June 1969 in Mamaia, Romania.
At the meeting of Section Tenpin, which preceded the FIQ Congress it was noted that one obstacle for being accepted as Olympic sport was the definition of amateur, and how the rule was written.
It was also decided to change the procedure for electing the section’s Presidium. Instead of allowing the President to appoint the other four Presidium members it was decided that the delegates at the meeting should elect all of them. It was also decided that the Presidium should consist of the President, the three Zone Presidents, and one member from each zone, who should be appointed by the respective zone.
Kaukko Ahlström, Finland was re-elected as President of Section Tenpin.
At the FIQ Congress there were delegates from 15 federations present, and 6 proxies had been accepted.
Ecuador, Hong Kong, Israel, Panama, and Philippines were accepted as new members of FIQ. The total number of member federations was thereby 44.
As FIQ Presidium members were elected:
Adolf Oesch, Switzerland, President.
Gregor Aminoff, Sweden Vice President.
Herbert Mähnert, East-Germany, Vice President.
Frank Baker, USA, Vice President.
Kaukko Ahlström, Finland, President of Section Tenpin.
Antonin Chilar, Czechoslovakia, President of Section Asphalt.
Kurt Scheermesser, East-Germany, President of Section Bohle.
Heinz Harsum, West-Germany, President of Section Schere.
