Chinese Bowling Foundation launched in an attempt to boost sport's Olympic bid

World Bowling have joined forces with the Chinese Bowling Association and Brunswick Bowling to launch the Chinese Bowling Foundation (CBF) in an attempt to revive the sport there.

World Bowling hope a surge in popularity in the sport in the Asian country can help contribute to get bowling onto the Olympic programme as early as Tokyo 2020.

"China is crucial in our ongoing Olympic recognition efforts," World Bowling President Kevin Dornberger said.

"We are encouraged with the formation of this partnership including our Friends of Bowling partner Brunswick, and the CBA, representing a country in which we have tremendous growth potential."

Bowling's popularity in China has been waning in recent years, with the closure of several centres causing a decrease in participation following a boom in the 1990's and the CBF will aim to promote and publicise the sport.

Industry leaders in China now believe the sport is ready for a major comeback, which will be heavily contributed to by the CBF, who will host a series of educational courses on topics such as ball drilling and lane maintenance.

"We are very much pleased to join hands with World Bowling and Brunswick, exploring and promoting the game of bowling in China," vice-chairman of Chinese Bowling Association Wang Li Wei said.

"We believe that our cooperation will surely have a bright future."

Brunswick Bowling, who run entertainment centres across North America, will also contribute by initiating a new league and helping an overhaul of the current ranking system in China, due to be implemented at some point in 2015.

"As the worldwide leader in bowling, we're pleased to be a charter member of this important new organization dedicated to energizing this great game in China," Gary Smith, Brunswick Bowling vice president of international sales added.

Bowling is continuing its drive for Olympic inclusion but it faces stiff competition from the likes of baseball softball, skateboarding, surfing, karate and squash.

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) said a decision on additional sports will be made at the IOC Session in 2016 ahead of the Olympic and Paralympic Games in Rio de Janeiro.