Grimsby bowls star says the loss of Commonwealth Games would be a ‘disaster’ for sport
GRIMSBY teacher and Bowls champion Amy Pharaoh admits the potential loss of the Commonwealth Games would be a ‘disaster’ for bowls. After Victoria withdrew from hosting the 2026 edition of the Games and the host venue for the 2030 still to be decided, there are fears that the competition could cease to exist.
And this could be especially damning for bowls, which relies on the event for widespread exposure and a largescale multi-sport audience. Recently, the Commonwealth Games Federation confirmed that it is ‘considering multiple proposals’ to host the event in two years. A medallist at four Commonwealth Games, and current Women’s Fours champion at the World Outdoor Bowls Championship, Pharaoh believes that a missed Games would be catastrophic for the sport.
Pharaoh, speaking ahead of Bowls’ Big Weekend 2024, said: “For bowls that would be a disaster. It is such a major event. A huge event.
“I think if we lost that, we’d have to find something else. All parties would be behind that, but it wouldn’t have the clout that the Commonwealth Games does.
“I always liken bowls to curling. People put curling on when it’s on.
“I want bowls to be like that. Where someone who doesn’t play it to be interested because they have watched it before. If we lose the Commonwealth Games, it will be very difficult to reach the same audience.”
Bowls’ Big Weekend, partnered with Aviva, is back for its fourth year and bigger and better than ever, with clubs across the country holding open days to encourage new players to give the sport a go.
With over three million people watching Bowls’ Big Weekend on national television last year, and over 560 clubs on board, bowls will be taking over England from May 24 to May 27 for the 2024 event. Cleethorpes BC, Pharaoh’s club, are one of the clubs hoping to welcome new faces on the bank holiday weekend.
Visiting several clubs across Bowls’ Big Weekend, Pharaoh is hopeful that the fourth year of the initiative will encourage more people to take bowls up as a pastime long-term. She said: “In the media, anything to do with bowls is associated with the older generation. “With Bowls’ Big Weekend, I think the important thing about that is that we are trying to attract families and the variety of people, not just the stereotypical bowlers.
“It is a sport where you get hooked. You play a really good bowl and you think ‘I want to do that again’. You keep going to try and do it again and it gets you addicted.
“That is the good thing about the Bowls’ Big Weekend, opening clubs up to people that may have no exposure to bowls clubs at all.”
■To find your nearest participating club and sign up for a free session go to bowlsbigweekend.com