Bowls: Christchurch to host 2016 World Champs

Bowls New Zealand has been given the nod to stage a four-year extravaganza of bowls in Christchurch.

After hosting the 2008 World Championships, Christchurch has now been given the 2016 World Championships by World Bowls.

Christchurch would also host the World Singles Champion of Champions in 2013 and 2014 and the Asia Pacific championships in 2015, Bowls New Zealand chief executive Kerry Clark said.

He made his announcement upon his return from a World Bowls meeting in Dubai.

"We applied and were granted these events because we know we have the capability, the venues, the volunteers, the expertise and the confidence of World Bowls to do another outstanding job," Clark said today.

"These are the types of events in New Zealand which are outstanding for promoting the sport.

"This is a feather in the cap for Bowls New Zealand and its partners. World Bowls holds our organisation in very high regard.

World Bowls chief executive Gary Smith said was full of praise for the 2008 championships in Christchurch.

"The board of directors of World Bowls was delighted to receive and approve Bowls New Zealand's bid to host the event once again in 2016, which clearly exhibited the positive reaction of the New Zealand bowling community, funding agencies, sponsors and the media to the success of the 2008 hosting," he said.

The 2008 championships brought $5.6 million in local earnings to Christchurch and the 2016 championships should generate even more, according to the Christchurch City Council.

Christchurch Mayor Bob Parker said to be awarded the rights to host four significant international bowls events over four years was an outstanding achievement for Christchurch and its bowling fraternity.

"These events will generate millions of dollars each year for our local economy each year and place the global spotlight for bowls firmly on Christchurch."

- NZPA