TEXT: For the first time in history, the four playing rinks at the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games will be named in honour of legends of the sport.
Through a collaboration between the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games and World Bowls, four members of the World Bowls Hall of Fame will have their names will be assigned to each purpose-built playing rinks at the Scottish Event Campus during the Games.
The four athletes being recognised are among the most successful bowls competitors in Commonwealth Games history, other than current players Alex Marshall MBE and Paul Foster MBE, who are again playing the pairs for Scotland.
The four players being honoured are:
David Bryant CBE (England): Celebrating the bowls titan who dominated the world stage for three decades winning an incredible four consecutive Commonwealth Games singles gold medals, as well as a fours gold medal in 1962.
Robert Weale (Wales): Honouring the Welsh six-times Commonwealth Games medallist including the singles gold in Delhi in 2010, whose success was achieved from eight successive games, a record in bowls and equals the record for a competitor across all sports.
Ellen Falkner MBE (England): Dedicated to the highly decorated three-time Commonwealth Games gold medallist, four medals in total, and one of the most successful athletes in the history of English lawn bowls who now resides in Australia and works for Bowls Australia.
Siti Zalina Ahmad (Malaysia): A pioneer for international bowls in Malaysia and one of only two women to win two Commonwealth Games singles gold medals, along with a pairs gold medal and a fours bronze medal. Now an international coach for Bowls Malaysia.
World Bowls President Brett O’Riley said: “We are delighted to celebrate four of our sport’s greatest players, David, Robert, Ellen and Siti in this unique way by the naming of each playing rink. Their performances at previous Games are part of bowls folklore.
“Thanks to Glasgow 2026 for recognising this opportunity with our indoor four rink activation at the Scottish Events Centre. This is the first-time bowls has played indoors, in what is our 22nd appearance as a sport in the Games, having been a foundation sport at the 1930 Games.”
Natalie Cunningham, Glasgow 2026 Director of Sport said: “As Glasgow 2026 prepares to welcome the world’s best bowlers and Para bowlers to a new indoor Games environment, we are proud to celebrate the achievements and legacy of these remarkable champions. The Commonwealth Games has always been a stage where sporting legends are made, so it’s fitting that these four rinks will honour some of the greatest bowlers and Para bowlers ever to grace the competition.”
The four names will feature prominently on rink-end structures overlooking the field of play, ensuring the sport’s newest Commonwealth Games champions compete in the shadow of some of its greatest-ever athletes. The specially constructed portable rinks will be officially unveiled ahead of the opening of Glasgow 2026 on 23 July.
Bowls is one of the only sports being played on all 11 days of the Games.
Tickets are available from www.glasgow2026.com
