Fédération Internationale des Quilleurs
Encyclopedia
The Fédération Internationale des Quilleurs (FIQ, International Federation of Bowlers) is the world governing body
of nine-pin
and ten-pin bowling
. The FIQ was founded in 1952 to foster worldwide interest in amateur tenpin and ninepin bowling, as well as international friendship by encouraging world and zone tournaments and other competition between bowlers of different countries. The FIQ has been recognized by the International Olympic Committee
since 1979 as the governing body for bowling sports
.
The FIQ has member federations located in all five Olympic
regions. With more than 100 million participants, 10 million competitors and 250,000 bowling lanes, it is one of the largest and best organized sports in the world.
In December 1951 the officials of the old IBA took initiative to invite delegates from all interested countries to come to Hamburg, Germany on 27 January 1952 to discuss the status of bowling and the possible re-activation of the IBA.
Representatives of the following countries attended the meeting in Hamburg, Germany:
The unanimous decision of all present was to form a new international bowling federation. The first proposal was to make it a European federation, but it was pointed out that the US being a strong ten-pin country, may also want to affiliate. The new federation would be a worldwide international organisation with 4 different sections: One for Tenpin bowling and 3 for Ninepin bowling: Asphalt (later: Classic), Bohle and Schere.
The new organisation would be named as proposed by Mr. René Weiss from France, Fédération Internationale des Quilleurs (FIQ – International federation of Bowlers). Mr. Heinz Kropp from Germany
was elected as its first President. Also Section Presidents were elected: for Tenpin Bowling – Mr. Hans Berger from Sweden
; for the Asphalt Section – Mr. Leopold Hatzi from Austria
; for the Bohle Section – Mr. Willi Stark from Germany
; and for the Schere Section – Mr. Francois van Arkels from Belgium
.
Although Denmark was not present at the meeting, it had promised to attend and for this reason considered as a member and included among the countries practicing Bohle.
All federations were given the task to prepare for each respective section, playing rules as well as regulations for equipment and to circulate such information among the member federations for comments before the next ordinary meeting. Mr. Weiss and Mr. Hatzi were authorized to draft a proposal for a FIQ Constitution respecting the IOC regulations.
The Tenpin Section was planning to conduct its 1st World Championships in Helsinki, Finland in July 1952 during the Olympic Games. But because of Germany’s disagreement based on the fact that three championships in the first year would be financially a heavy burden for the federation, it was decided that the TENPIN Championships should be postponed to 1954.
After the circulation of the minutes of that Conference, Austria wanted to add as a leading principle for the newly established FIQ, that the Chairmanship of the FIQ or of a Section is not given to a nation, but to a person who has been elected to the position. That person will also have the right to lead his/her own national federation. The FIQ received its first funds from the IBA which was eventually dissolved in March 1952.
One of the immediate tasks for the new leadership was to recruit more member federations. Either Ninepin or Tenpin could be found in:
It took some time, but in the first year Czechoslovakia
, Hungary
, Saarland and Spain
accepted the invitation. Later, Germany Dem Republic and the Netherlands also accepted to be members.
In the first year (1952) there were also disappointments, because the 1st European Championships of Asphalt had to be cancelled due to delayed preparations: they were moved to Zürich, Switzerland. The Championships for Schere, however, were held and were attended by participants from 5 countries.
; eight member federations attended. During that meeting the first FIQ Constitution was adopted and it became the guideline and law for almost 20 years. Also a scale and method for charging annual membership fees was adopted. Also this lasted almost 20 years until the first raise of annual fees and a new scale were found necessary. Another decision adopted, which would be impossible to follow today, was that the official language for all Congress meetings was German
. Rules, however, were to be printed also in English
and French
.
List of FIQ congresses:
and Venezuela
. These two countries had participated in 1958 in the World Tenpin Championships in Helsingborg, Sweden as provisional members. The Constitution provided the Presidium the authority to grant new member federations provisional membership status, to be confirmed (or rejected) at the next regular congress.
The development of the membership looks as follows:
World Tenpin Bowling Association (WTBA)
World Ninepin Bowling Association (WNBA)
Sport governing body
A sport governing body is a sports organization that has a regulatory or sanctioning function. Sport governing bodies come in various forms, and have a variety of regulatory functions. Examples of this can include disciplinary action for rule infractions and deciding on rule changes in the sport...
of nine-pin
Nine-pin bowling
Nine-pin bowling is a bowling game played primarily in Europe. European championships are held each year. Over 90,000 members are on teams in Germany, often playing in officially registered Bundeskegelbahnen to be found in almost every sizable town...
and ten-pin bowling
Ten-pin bowling
Ten-pin bowling is a competitive sport in which a player rolls a bowling ball down a wooden or synthetic lane with the objective of scoring points by knocking down as many pins as possible.-Summary:The lane is bordered along its length by semicylindrical channels Ten-pin bowling (commonly just...
. The FIQ was founded in 1952 to foster worldwide interest in amateur tenpin and ninepin bowling, as well as international friendship by encouraging world and zone tournaments and other competition between bowlers of different countries. The FIQ has been recognized by the International Olympic Committee
International Olympic Committee
The International Olympic Committee is an international corporation based in Lausanne, Switzerland, created by Pierre de Coubertin on 23 June 1894 with Demetrios Vikelas as its first president...
since 1979 as the governing body for bowling sports
Bowling
Bowling Bowling Bowling (1375–1425; late Middle English bowle, variant of boule Bowling (1375–1425; late Middle English bowle, variant of boule...
.
The FIQ has member federations located in all five Olympic
Olympic Games
The Olympic Games is a major international event featuring summer and winter sports, in which thousands of athletes participate in a variety of competitions. The Olympic Games have come to be regarded as the world’s foremost sports competition where more than 200 nations participate...
regions. With more than 100 million participants, 10 million competitors and 250,000 bowling lanes, it is one of the largest and best organized sports in the world.
Tasks
- To encourage the development of tenpin and ninepin bowling throughout the world.
- To foster international friendship by promoting national and international competition in tenpin and ninepin bowling.
- To pursue the recognition of tenpin and ninepin bowling as a fully recognized athletic competition in the Olympic Games.
- To support national organisations that promote tenpin and ninepin bowling within their respective countries and the world as a whole.
The foundation of the FIQ
The first attempt to coordinate the sport of bowling at world level by organizing world championships and by bringing uniformity through universal playing rules, was undertaken in 1926 by Finland, Germany, the Netherlands, Sweden and the US with the formation of the International Bowling Association (IBA).In December 1951 the officials of the old IBA took initiative to invite delegates from all interested countries to come to Hamburg, Germany on 27 January 1952 to discuss the status of bowling and the possible re-activation of the IBA.
Representatives of the following countries attended the meeting in Hamburg, Germany:
- AustriaAustriaAustria , officially the Republic of Austria , is a landlocked country of roughly 8.4 million people in Central Europe. It is bordered by the Czech Republic and Germany to the north, Slovakia and Hungary to the east, Slovenia and Italy to the south, and Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the...
- BelgiumBelgiumBelgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
- FinlandFinlandFinland , officially the Republic of Finland, is a Nordic country situated in the Fennoscandian region of Northern Europe. It is bordered by Sweden in the west, Norway in the north and Russia in the east, while Estonia lies to its south across the Gulf of Finland.Around 5.4 million people reside...
- FranceFranceThe French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
- West GermanyWest GermanyWest Germany is the common English, but not official, name for the Federal Republic of Germany or FRG in the period between its creation in May 1949 to German reunification on 3 October 1990....
- YugoslaviaYugoslaviaYugoslavia refers to three political entities that existed successively on the western part of the Balkans during most of the 20th century....
- SwedenSwedenSweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
- SwitzerlandSwitzerlandSwitzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
- LuxembourgLuxembourgLuxembourg , officially the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg , is a landlocked country in western Europe, bordered by Belgium, France, and Germany. It has two principal regions: the Oesling in the North as part of the Ardennes massif, and the Gutland in the south...
(represented by proxy given to Belgium)
The unanimous decision of all present was to form a new international bowling federation. The first proposal was to make it a European federation, but it was pointed out that the US being a strong ten-pin country, may also want to affiliate. The new federation would be a worldwide international organisation with 4 different sections: One for Tenpin bowling and 3 for Ninepin bowling: Asphalt (later: Classic), Bohle and Schere.
The new organisation would be named as proposed by Mr. René Weiss from France, Fédération Internationale des Quilleurs (FIQ – International federation of Bowlers). Mr. Heinz Kropp from Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
was elected as its first President. Also Section Presidents were elected: for Tenpin Bowling – Mr. Hans Berger from Sweden
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
; for the Asphalt Section – Mr. Leopold Hatzi from Austria
Austria
Austria , officially the Republic of Austria , is a landlocked country of roughly 8.4 million people in Central Europe. It is bordered by the Czech Republic and Germany to the north, Slovakia and Hungary to the east, Slovenia and Italy to the south, and Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the...
; for the Bohle Section – Mr. Willi Stark from Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
; and for the Schere Section – Mr. Francois van Arkels from Belgium
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
.
| |
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|||
| |
||||
| |
|
|
|
|
| |
||||
| |
||||
| |
|
|||
| |
||||
| |
||||
| |
|
|||
| |
|
|||
| |
Although Denmark was not present at the meeting, it had promised to attend and for this reason considered as a member and included among the countries practicing Bohle.
All federations were given the task to prepare for each respective section, playing rules as well as regulations for equipment and to circulate such information among the member federations for comments before the next ordinary meeting. Mr. Weiss and Mr. Hatzi were authorized to draft a proposal for a FIQ Constitution respecting the IOC regulations.
World Championships
The first official FIQ Championship was also decided upon:- First European Championships of Asphalt were given to Zagreb, Yugoslavia in May/June 1952.
- First European Championships of Schere were given to Brussels, Belgium in July 1952.
The Tenpin Section was planning to conduct its 1st World Championships in Helsinki, Finland in July 1952 during the Olympic Games. But because of Germany’s disagreement based on the fact that three championships in the first year would be financially a heavy burden for the federation, it was decided that the TENPIN Championships should be postponed to 1954.
After the circulation of the minutes of that Conference, Austria wanted to add as a leading principle for the newly established FIQ, that the Chairmanship of the FIQ or of a Section is not given to a nation, but to a person who has been elected to the position. That person will also have the right to lead his/her own national federation. The FIQ received its first funds from the IBA which was eventually dissolved in March 1952.
One of the immediate tasks for the new leadership was to recruit more member federations. Either Ninepin or Tenpin could be found in:
- ArgentinaArgentinaArgentina , officially the Argentine Republic , is the second largest country in South America by land area, after Brazil. It is constituted as a federation of 23 provinces and an autonomous city, Buenos Aires...
- BulgariaBulgariaBulgaria , officially the Republic of Bulgaria , is a parliamentary democracy within a unitary constitutional republic in Southeast Europe. The country borders Romania to the north, Serbia and Macedonia to the west, Greece and Turkey to the south, as well as the Black Sea to the east...
- CanadaCanadaCanada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
- CzechoslovakiaCzechoslovakiaCzechoslovakia or Czecho-Slovakia was a sovereign state in Central Europe which existed from October 1918, when it declared its independence from the Austro-Hungarian Empire, until 1992...
- EnglandEnglandEngland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
- HungaryHungaryHungary , officially the Republic of Hungary , is a landlocked country in Central Europe. It is situated in the Carpathian Basin and is bordered by Slovakia to the north, Ukraine and Romania to the east, Serbia and Croatia to the south, Slovenia to the southwest and Austria to the west. The...
- PolandPolandPoland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
- RomaniaRomaniaRomania is a country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeastern Europe, on the Lower Danube, within and outside the Carpathian arch, bordering on the Black Sea...
- Saarland
- SpainSpainSpain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
- USA
It took some time, but in the first year Czechoslovakia
Czechoslovakia
Czechoslovakia or Czecho-Slovakia was a sovereign state in Central Europe which existed from October 1918, when it declared its independence from the Austro-Hungarian Empire, until 1992...
, Hungary
Hungary
Hungary , officially the Republic of Hungary , is a landlocked country in Central Europe. It is situated in the Carpathian Basin and is bordered by Slovakia to the north, Ukraine and Romania to the east, Serbia and Croatia to the south, Slovenia to the southwest and Austria to the west. The...
, Saarland and Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
accepted the invitation. Later, Germany Dem Republic and the Netherlands also accepted to be members.
In the first year (1952) there were also disappointments, because the 1st European Championships of Asphalt had to be cancelled due to delayed preparations: they were moved to Zürich, Switzerland. The Championships for Schere, however, were held and were attended by participants from 5 countries.
Congresses
The first FIQ Congress was hosted by the German federation in November 1952 in MunichMunich
Munich The city's motto is "" . Before 2006, it was "Weltstadt mit Herz" . Its native name, , is derived from the Old High German Munichen, meaning "by the monks' place". The city's name derives from the monks of the Benedictine order who founded the city; hence the monk depicted on the city's coat...
; eight member federations attended. During that meeting the first FIQ Constitution was adopted and it became the guideline and law for almost 20 years. Also a scale and method for charging annual membership fees was adopted. Also this lasted almost 20 years until the first raise of annual fees and a new scale were found necessary. Another decision adopted, which would be impossible to follow today, was that the official language for all Congress meetings was German
German language
German is a West Germanic language, related to and classified alongside English and Dutch. With an estimated 90 – 98 million native speakers, German is one of the world's major languages and is the most widely-spoken first language in the European Union....
. Rules, however, were to be printed also in English
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
and French
French language
French is a Romance language spoken as a first language in France, the Romandy region in Switzerland, Wallonia and Brussels in Belgium, Monaco, the regions of Quebec and Acadia in Canada, and by various communities elsewhere. Second-language speakers of French are distributed throughout many parts...
.
List of FIQ congresses:
| |
|
|
| 1952 | München | |
| 1953 | Zürich | |
| 1955 | Saarbrücken | |
| 1957 | Wien | |
| 1959 | Leipzig | |
| 1961 | Straßburg | |
| 1963 | Budapest | |
| 1965 | Stockholm | |
| 1967 | Salzburg | |
| 1969 | Mamaia | |
| 1971 | Milwaukee | |
| 1973 | Dublin | |
| 1975 | London | |
| 1977 | Helsinki | |
| 1979 | Manila | |
| 1981 | Milwaukee | |
| 1983 | Caracas | |
| 1985 | Wien | |
| 1987 | Helsinki | |
| 1989 | Wichita | |
| 1991 | Singapur | |
| 1993 | Rom | |
| 1995 | Reno | |
| 1997 | Nottingham | |
| 2001 | Abu Dhabi | |
| 2003 | Kuala Lumpur | |
| 2005 | Aalborg | |
| 2007 | Monterrey | |
| 2009 | Las Vegas | |
| 2010 | München | |
Members
1953 brought 6 more member federations and in 1954 FIQ had 15 member federations in total. It took 5 more years (1959) to register the first Non-European member federations: MexicoMexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
and Venezuela
Venezuela
Venezuela , officially called the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela , is a tropical country on the northern coast of South America. It borders Colombia to the west, Guyana to the east, and Brazil to the south...
. These two countries had participated in 1958 in the World Tenpin Championships in Helsingborg, Sweden as provisional members. The Constitution provided the Presidium the authority to grant new member federations provisional membership status, to be confirmed (or rejected) at the next regular congress.
The development of the membership looks as follows:
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
Presidents
| |
|
|
| |
Heinz Kopp | |
| |
Dr. Iwan Krizanic | |
| |
Adolf Oesch | |
| |
Kauko Ahlström | |
| |
Frank K. Baker | |
| |
Soetopo Jananto | |
| |
Roger H. Tessman | |
| |
Gerald L. Koenig | |
| |
Steve Hontiveros | |
| |
Jessie Phua |
Disciplines
The FIQ regulates two disciplines - tenpin and ninepin. The two organisations that administer these disciplines are the World Tenpin Bowling Association (WTBA) and the World Ninepin Bowling Association (WNBA). Both organizations were founded by the FIQ in 1973.World Tenpin Bowling Association (WTBA)
World Tenpin Bowling Association
The World Tenpin Bowling Association of the Fédération Internationale des Quilleurs is a Ten-pin bowling organisation which independently formulates its own policies, which may not conflict with FIQ Statutes...
- Asian Bowling Federation (ABF)
- European Tenpin Bowling Federation (ETBF)
- Pan American Bowling Confederation (PABCON)
World Ninepin Bowling Association (WNBA)
World Ninepin Bowling Association
The Fédération Internationale des Quilleurs is the World Bowling Federation. The FIQ is subdivided into two disciplines, the World Ninepin Bowling Association and the World Tenpin Association . Both organizations were founded by the FIQ in 1973 in London...
- Section Classic (NBC)
- Section Bohle (NBB)
- Section Schere (NBS)
See also
- Nine-pin bowlingNine-pin bowlingNine-pin bowling is a bowling game played primarily in Europe. European championships are held each year. Over 90,000 members are on teams in Germany, often playing in officially registered Bundeskegelbahnen to be found in almost every sizable town...
- Ten-pin bowlingTen-pin bowlingTen-pin bowling is a competitive sport in which a player rolls a bowling ball down a wooden or synthetic lane with the objective of scoring points by knocking down as many pins as possible.-Summary:The lane is bordered along its length by semicylindrical channels Ten-pin bowling (commonly just...
- Association of IOC Recognised International Sports FederationsAssociation of IOC Recognised International Sports FederationsThe Association of IOC Recognised International Sports Federations is a non-governmental, non-profit, non-discriminatory organisation constituted through and recognised by the International Olympic Committee. . It was formed in 1983...