Craig Bowler has proposed a radical multi-host solution in a bid to avoid the potentially ‘devastating’ loss of the Commonwealth Games.

Wellingborough star Bowler, 45, won para-bowls bronze at Birmingham 2022 but his chances of a second Games appearance have been cast into doubt with uncertainty over the future of the event.

Victoria pulled the plug on hosting in 2026 and with a new home yet to be determined, Bowler is an advocate for spreading events across different cities if it means the Games can go ahead.

“It would be absolutely devastating to lose the Commonwealths,” said Bowler, speaking ahead of Bowls’ Big Weekend 2024. 

“With the Olympics and Paralympics you have that separate window for abled and disabled people, but with the Commonwealths it's all together.

“It could be that the Games is spread across different countries who host different sports, fingers crossed it carries on.”

Euro 2020 set the standard for multi-city events as the first pan-European football tournament, offering countries an opportunity to stage a global event they might not otherwise receive.

To some extent, Bowler experienced a Games of this ilk in Birmingham. Lawn bowls was held 30 miles down the road from the thick of the action in the heart of the second city and Bowler says he never felt like he had missed out.

“We stayed at Leamington, so we were away from the village and the atmosphere anyway,” he added.

“It wouldn't bother me (to host the Commonwealth Games across multiple cities), as long as all the countries are together in the bowls, then I'd be quite happy with that.”

Games organisers have announced their intention of naming a new host this month and Bowler will be a relieved man when a resolution is identified.

“The Commonwealth Games was one of the biggest events for our sport in terms of getting it out there,” he said.

“I think about 10,000 people signed up for the sport after that, so if there is no Games to showcase our sport, it’s harder to change that stigma around the sport being an old person’s game.

“Last year when I was on BBC, Sky News, and just trying to promote the sport, that made a big impact on a lot of people, so if we lost the Commonwealth Games and the platform that gives people it would be a major blow for our sport.”

Bowls’ Big Weekend, partnered with Aviva, is back for its fourth year and bigger and better than ever, with clubs across the country holding open days to encourage new players to give the sport a go.

With over three million people watching Bowls’ Big Weekend on national television last year, and over 560 clubs on board, bowls will be taking over England from 24th – 27th May for the 2024 event.

Triple amputee Bowler first tried bowls around 16 years ago, having been introduced to the sport by a family friend after an attempted suicide attempt that saw him lose two legs and an arm.

Bowler reflects back fondly on his first Commonwealth Games as a major turning point in his life.  

“It was everything,” he said. “It certainly put me on the map so that I could do a lot around mental health and give back.

“It boosted my profile, going around schools speaking about the sport, I do a lot of presentations in clubs and I'm very well known in the bowls world now and it’s a massive family – I wouldn't change it for the world.”

To find your nearest participating club and sign up for a free session go to bowlsbigweekend.com