The more you move around, the smaller the world becomes, or so they say. My husband and I were reminded of this last June when, out of the blue, we received a call from our Canadian friend Bill Rowe, one of our bowling coaches. This was when we lived in the Dominican Republic – twelve years ago!
Bill told us he was moving to the UAE in August to coach the UAE’s national bowling team. What a pleasant surprise! Since he’s arrived we have already had several happy reunions to catch up, and talk about his plans.
To us, Bill Rowe is a friend. To the world of bowling, Bill is a world-champion bowler and holder of the only Olympic win the sport has ever seen. He cinched the title in Atlanta in 1994, when bowling was an exhibition sport. Even though bowling did not make the cut to become an Olympic sport, Bill talks about the experience with great relish.
“The exhibition tournament took place before the official start of the Olympics. We weren’t allowed to stay in the Olympic Village, but went there every day for meals and training. It was kind of awkward standing outside the gate each morning waiting for it to open, but once inside the atmosphere was great.”
Bill relates the story of how he started bowling; he was just two years old. “My grandmother took me to the lanes, but she didn’t know how to keep score,” he laughed. “So she would make up scores to tell my parents. It was really funny.”
After that he caught the bowling bug and never looked back. He began playing in leagues at age six, and his competitive resume grew: five time Canadian Bowler of the Year, and consistent medals throughout the world and even two tours on the Professional Bowlers Association (PBA) Tour. Ironically, one of his most memorable wins was in Abu Dhabi at the 1997 International Open Championship. Little did he know then that he would come back to coach others on the same lanes he prevailed at, in Zayed Sports City.
Bill says that he travelled widely for the love of the game. Since his ’97 win he has opened several bowling pro shops, and coached in Canada as well as the national teams of the Dominican Republic, Malaysia, and Qatar.
His travels across the world continue even after his arrival here. He has gone with the team to South Korea, Hong Kong, Thailand and Poland for tournaments, and in between has managed to squeeze in a trip home to Canada to see his wife and his two daughters.
Bill enjoys his time in the UAE.
“It means a lot to be coaching here as the players are supported so very well. I love to coach those dedicated to improving their game and who strive to be better.”
“My main objectives are to work with the experience of the adult team to improve their level of play while starting to develop the youth and women’s teams.”
In the UAE, Bill splits his time between team members in Dubai and Abu Dhabi. He says that this is an important year for bowling in the UAE as the Khalifa International Bowling Center at Zayed Sports City is hosting bowling’s most prestigious competition, the Men’s World Bowling Championship. This is the second World Bowling Championship hosted here, the original being in 1999, he explained.
The Bowling Center is the only one in the world to ever host two such Championships, said Bill. The event will run daily from 6-15 December as the world’s best bowlers take to the lanes. Bill promises this will be an action-packed event, and if you decide to visit, he asks that you stop by to say hello.
Photography by Gilles Vandevoorde
