Team England bowls star Sian Honnor believes the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to transform the sport's image and attract thousands of new players. For years, bowls has grappled with a paradox: it stands as one of Britain's most triumphant Commonwealth sports, producing world-class competitors and thrilling international contests, yet it has frequently battled misconceptions that don't mirror its contemporary truth.
With the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games now looming, there is mounting confidence within the sport that bowls finds itself at a crucial juncture. Few grasp that chance better than Honnor, who has seen firsthand the divide between what people think bowls represents and what they discover when they actually step onto a green.
Skill and Community: The Real Face of Bowls
Honnor, 38, said: "People are always surprised when they actually try it. They realise quite quickly how much skill is involved, how competitive it can be but also how welcoming the environment is and that anyone can give it a go." The obstacle, she contends, has never been the sport itself; the greatest barrier has always been enticing people through the gate for the first time.
As one of the ten sports on the Commonwealth Games programme, bowls and para bowls will receive daily coverage throughout the competition, showcasing the sport to millions of viewers worldwide. More crucially, the governing bodies of bowls are committed to ensuring that the interest sparked by elite competition translates into genuine participation at the grassroots level.
Bowls' Big Summer 2026: A National Participation Drive
The vehicle for this ambition is Bowls' Big Summer 2026, a nationwide participation campaign running from May to September, designed to help clubs capitalise on the increased visibility that the Games will bring. Clubs across the country will host open days, taster sessions and flexible opportunities to play in an effort to attract new audiences to the sport.
For Honnor, the timing couldn't be more perfect. She added: "We know there are people looking for ways to be active that aren't necessarily high-impact. People are looking for community, they're looking to make connections and improve their wellbeing. Bowls offers all of those things."
Beyond Misconceptions: The Community Behind the Sport
"When people watch bowls at the highest level, they see the precision and the pressure. What they don't always see is the community behind it. Clubs are full of brilliant people and that's often what keeps people coming back," Honnor said.
The campaign has been developed not simply to encourage participation, but to make participation easier. Central to the initiative is Play-Bowls.com, which acts as a national hub connecting prospective players with clubs, sessions and opportunities to play in their local area. The strategy reflects a growing understanding across sport that inspiration alone is rarely enough.
Success Beyond Medals: Inspiring a New Generation
For Honnor, success in 2026 will not be measured solely by medals. She added: "Of course everyone wants Team England to perform well, but if people watch the Games and then decide to give bowls a go themselves, that's a huge success for the sport too. Hopefully we'll inspire people to try something new. Once they do, I think they'll quickly understand why so many of us love it."
For a sport that has spent decades building strong communities across the country, Glasgow 2026 may prove to be the biggest opportunity it has ever had. To find your nearest club and book a session, visit www.Play-Bowls.com.
