Bowling
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Grab your balls… we’re going bowling at Gay Games València! Bowling has been one of the largest sports at the Gay Games ever since Gay Games I in 1982; 2026 will be no exception.
Whether you are a League bowler (with an established average) or a Social bowler (without an average), this is the event for you. The Ilusiona bowling center in suburban Paterna is modern, air conditioned, and fantastic, set in the middle of a shopping center called Heron City, with numerous bars and restaurants. There is great food and drink service within Ilusiona, and even an ice cream counter! There are 26 automatic AMF lanes, and overnight secure storage for bowling equipment will be available. On weekdays, Ilusiona normally opens at 1600 (4:00pm), but the center will be open starting in the morning exclusively for Gay Games bowling.
While the Mas De Rosari tram stop is a few hundred meters from Ilusiona, there is also a bus line that can take you from Plaça d’Espanya to the bowling tournament.
Remember that you will need to show your accreditation when accessing to the competition.
All participants are strongly advised to enter all three of the main events: Team, Doubles and Singles.
Bowlers in the SOCIAL division cannot participate in the LEAGUE division. Similarly, bowlers in the LEAGUE division cannot participate in the SOCIAL division.
Don’t forget your bottle or canteen; there will be drinking water stations for refills.
There is no sale of bowling-specific equipment or accessories at the venue, so we recommend bringing all necessary equipment with you.
Bowling shoes will be available for rental for those who need them.
Sport fee
General registration
$245.00
Residents in Spain
$165.00
(special price, 32% off)
+
Sport fee
$90.00
15% discount for residents in Valencia 10% discount for residents in Spain
HOW
All players compete together, regardless of gender.
- The Singles event (shall be one person).
- The Doubles event (shall be set at two persons per team).
- The Team Event (shall be of four players per team).
In Doubles and Team events, each member must bowl with their Doubles / Team partners.
There is a social tournament and a league
WHEN
Training
Competition
| SPORT | 27 JUNE | 28 JUNE | 29 JUNE | 30 JUNE | 1 JULY | 2 JULY | 3 JULY | 4 JULY | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bowling |
This is a provisional schedule and may change depending on the number of registrations.
Monday – Singles
- 09am – 12pm: Singles Squad 1.
- 01pm – 04pm: Singles Squad 2.
- Done for Monday at 04pm.
Tuesday – Doubles
- 09am – 12pm: Doubles Squad 1. Squad 2 of Singles participants bowl their Doubles 3 games of qualifying
- 01pm – 04pm: Doubles Squad 2. . Squad 1 of Singles bowls their 3 games of Doubles qualifying
- Done for Tuesday at 4:00 pm
Wednesday. Singles & Doubles Medal rounds and ceremonies.
- 09am – 10:30am: Singles Medal Round. ~25% of Singles bowlers advance to Medal round. 3 games.
- Singles Medal ceremony. 30 minutes after completion of Singles Medal round.
- 01pm – 02:30pm: Doubles Medal Round. ~25% of Doubles Teams advance to Medal round. 3 games.
- 03pm – 03:30pm: Doubles Medal ceremony. End of Wednesday around 3:30 pm.
Thursday. Team
- 09am – 12pm: Squad 1 bowls their 3 games of Team event.
- 01pm – 04pm: Squad 2 bowls their Team event.
- 04pm – 05pm: scores are tallied, medalists determined, and medals awarded.
- Bowling concludes on Thursday afternoon.
WHO
League Division
League division is open to bowlers with a declared average established and recorded via play in a regular league or tournament (minimum 21 games per year). “League” competitors are defined as those players who have recorded averages from league and/or competition play.
A bowler who has both a League and a Tournament average (21 games minimum) must submit both. The higher of the two will be used.
Such leagues or tournaments shall not necessarily be sanctioned but shall have kept verifiable records of all bowlers participating therein, their scores, number of games played etc.
DIVISIONS (League only)
League competitors are further divided into skill divisions based on their average:
- GRADE A
- Singles : 200+
- Doubles : 400+
- Team (4 persons): 800+
- GRADE B
- Singles : 180–199
- Doubles : 360–399
- Team (4 persons) : 720–799
- GRADE C
- Singles : 160–179
- Doubles : 320–359
- Team (4 persons) : 640-719
- GRADE D
- Singles : 140–159
- Doubles: 280–319
- Team (4 persons): 560–639
- GRADE E
- Singles : 0–139
- Doubles : 0–279
- Team (4 persons): 0–559
Handicap system
To ensure fair competition between players of different levels, a handicap system is applied.
The handicap is calculated as 90% of the difference between your average and 220.
Example:
- Player average: 176
- Difference to 220: 220 – 176 = 44
- Handicap: 90% of 44 = 39.6 → rounded to 40
- 👉 This player will receive +40 pins per game
Social Division
The Social Division is open to all bowlers who do not qualify for League Division. The Social Division will include bowlers unable to provide verified averages or those who are not league members. It will also include those who bowl ‘socially’ and infrequent bowlers.
The Social Division is a scratch tournament.
Social Division shall consist of scratch scores, for the Singles, Doubles, Team events.
WHERE
Ilusiona Heron City Bowling Alley
Timetables Official Gay Games bus transfers from HOTEL NOVOTEL VALENCIA LAVANT
View timetable image
Centro Comercial y de Ocio Heron City
Pista Ademuz, CV-35, salida 6-7
Paterna
46980 Valencia
This registration is also for you if you live with a disability.
Our facilities are adapted and accessible to everyone; however, for this sport there may be limitations in terms of such modifications. If you need more information, please contact us.