The Commonwealth Games is viewed by many as one of the most prestigious events in Bowls, so all eyes will be on the competition when it gets rolling at Glasgow 2026. In a Games first, Glasgow will see Bowls and Para Bowls contested indoors.

From the first bowl to the last, this is a dramatic and unpredictable sport that demands skill and composure.

The bowls are biased, meaning they will never roll in a straight line but rather in a curve.

A small white bowl called a jack is rolled down the green to start the game. The aim is to get your bowls closer to the jack than your opponent. Points are awarded for each bowl that is closer to the jack than your opponent’s. If a bowler has the two closest bowls, they score two points.

There is always plenty of drama as players use their own bowls to knock away their opponent’s and stop them from scoring.

Previous Commonwealth Games Appearances

Bowls is one of the original six sports on the Commonwealth Games programme, meaning it has been played at every Games since 1930, with the exception of Kingston 1966, where no Bowls facilities were available. Para Bowls was introduced in 2002.

Age Is No Barrier

Scotland has a proud history in Bowls — including two record-setting performances at Birmingham 2022.

• George Miller, aged 75 years and 8 months, became the oldest men’s gold medallist. He served as director for visually impaired bowler Melanie Innes in the B2/B3 mixed pairs.

• Rosemary Lenton, aged 72, became the oldest women’s gold medallist, winning the Para women’s pairs alongside Pauline Wilson — on her Games debut.