Bowling Fed Spares Nothing in Hunt for Tokyo 2020 -- ATRadio

(ATR) Bowling is officially aiming for inclusion in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.

"This is a fortuitous situation for us," Kevin Dornberger, president of World Bowling, tells Around the Rings.

"Japan is our second-largest member federation, behind the United States, in terms of participation.

"We think it’s our time."

On Monday, World Bowling submitted its application to Tokyo for inclusion in the 2020 Games.

Last month, Tokyo 2020 opened the doors to sports hoping to join the Olympic program on a single-Games basis.

The organizing committee was given the leeway to add sports of its own accord under the Olympic Agenda 2020 reforms passed in 2014.

The Additional Event Program Panel is expected to send a final list of sports to the IOC for approval no later than September 30.

Baseball/softball is widely considered to have the inside track on securing a spot in Tokyo due to its popularity in Japan.Wushu, squash, wakeboarding, surfing and others have shown interest as well.

Tokyo 2020, Dornberger says, will release a short list of sports under consideration by the Additional Event Program Panel on June 22.

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