September
2003
Surprises
and Changes for FIQ and WTBA
It's
all over folks! The much reported battles between FIQ
and WTBA top leaders, the threatened existence of FIQ, as
well as the jockeying for leadership for the top WTBA spot,
is in the past along with all the controversy it generated
among organization watchers.
The first day of
the Congress went smoothly enough with the adoption of
Spanish translations for future meetings, plus ratification
of most of the amendments to the WTBA Statutes and Playing Rules
as recommended by the WTBA Presidium.
It was on the
second day, Tuesday, that emotions came into play and
the much publicized and awaited battle started. After
an 10 hour-long heated meeting the vote was postponed until
Wednesday. The only thing agreed upon was a decision to skip
the World Tenpin Team Cup in favor of expanding the World
Championships to be held every year from 2005 on with women
in odd and men in even years and the rejection of the
technical committee's recommendation for a new tournament
format.
Wednesday
promised to be more of the same, but surprisingly,
everything settled down to a dull roar and both the fate of
FIQ and WTBA were peacefully decided. At the end of the
meeting FIQ still held it's place and power as the head of
the world bowling community. Vociferous WTBA president and
re-election contender P.S. Nathan suddenly pulled out of the
race and was quickly followed by Joyce Deitch withdrawing
her candidacy, thus allowing a peaceful and surprising
election of new officers for both organizations.
WTBA -
President: Heikki Sarso (President of the Finnish Bowling
Federation)
First Vice President: Eduardo Marchandet (President of the
Venezuelan Bowling Federation)
Second Vice President: Abdul Salam Abbas (Vice President of
the Qatar Bowling Federation)
FIQ -
President: Steve Hontiveros (First Vice President of the
Philippine Olympic Committee)
First Vice President: Kevin Dornberger (United States)
Second Vice President: Jean Fulcrand (France)
Surprises and
changes....and finally we may see the end of the past divisiveness
between FIQ and WTBA. May the ball roll on smoothly.
