Fruitful Meeting with World Bowls President

The International Bocce Confederation (CBI) President, Dr. Mutlu Türkmen, recently held a constructive meeting with Mr. Brett O’Riley, President of World Bowls, to explore future collaborations aimed at uniting Bocce and Bowls for shared growth and success. The meeting took place in Köyceğiz, Türkiye, and was attended by other Turkish sports officials.

During the meeting, President O’Riley highlighted that World Bowls is recognised within the International Paralympic Committee (IPC). This recognition, he noted, could play a significant role in advancing the inclusion of all Bowls disciplines (Bocce Raffa, Bocce Volo, Petanque, and Bowls) in the 2032 Brisbane Olympic Games. Dr. Türkmen emphasised the critical importance of unity among Bowls disciplines and formally invited World Bowls to consider joining the World Petanque and Bowls Federation (WPBF), the global umbrella organisation for related sports. He further expressed CBI’s readiness to support World Bowls in opening pathways to university sports programs, recognising the value of engaging younger generations in these disciplines.

Both leaders agreed on a shared vision for the future and discussed potential initiatives to further their collaboration. Among these, they considered organising an international Bowls competition in Gallipoli, Türkiye, coinciding with Anzac Day — a symbolic gesture to promote peace and friendship through sport.

In addition to his meeting with Dr. Türkmen, Mr. O’Riley also held productive discussions with Mr. Özgür Bayatlı, President of the Turkish Bocce Bowling and Darts Federation (TBBDF), as well as technical staff, to explore strategies for promoting and developing Bowls across Türkiye.

This promising dialogue between CBI and World Bowls marks an important step toward stronger global cooperation and the development of joint strategies that can benefit athletes, federations, and the broader sports community.