United States to host 2009 Women's World Championships

The 2009 World Tenpin Bowling Association Women's World Championships will be held in one of the most unique venues in the sport of bowling when the United States Bowling Congress hosts the event next year in Las Vegas.

The event will take place on 56 specially constructed lanes inside Cashman Center following the conclusion of the 2009 USBC Open Championships. The WTBA elected the United States to host the event after the previous selection, Australia, withdrew.

"We are pleased to step in and showcase the world's best bowlers in this unique setting," USBC Chief Operating Officer and WTBA President Kevin Dornberger said. "It will have been nearly 14 years since we last hosted the World Championships and USBC is up to the challenge."

The United States last hosted the World Championships, which until 2003 featured both men and women, in 1995 to help open the National Bowling Stadium in Reno, Nev. The United States, which will become the first three-time host of the World Championships, also hosted the 1971 event in Milwaukee.

The Women's World Championships, which tentatively will be held July 25-Aug. 2, 2009, is expected to feature more than 225 athletes from 43 countries competing in doubles, singles, trios, team, all-events and Masters. The events will be conducted in a stadium setting, which will enhance the event for spectators as well as competitors.

To accommodate the Women's World Championships, the 2009 Open Championships, which is expected to feature a prize fund of more than $7 million, will be extended until July 24, bringing the final capacity for the event to 16,300 teams. More than 11,500 teams are already signed up to compete.

Additional information on the 2009 WTBA Women's World Championships will be posted on bowl.com as it becomes available.