Embassy World Indoor Bowls Championship
The first television pictures were beamed across London from Alexandra Palace in 1936 and today another first comes from the same venue. The new-look, rebuilt palace hosts the top event in world indoor bowls, the singles championship, beginning today for nine days.
Previously held in Scotland, this tournament uses the portable rink for the first time, and taking part are the top 32 players in the world.
Yet another first in this year's championship is the introduction of seedings, and topping the list at No 1 is the current world indoor singles champion, TONY ALLCOCK.
Following close on his heels at No 2 is DAVID BRYANT , world outdoor singles champion this year for a record third time.
Opening the proceedings today is TONY ALLCOCK playing
JOHN E. THOMAS from Wales.
All games are the best-of-five sets of seven shots up.
Introduced by DAVID ICKE Commentators
DAVID RHYS JONES
JIMMY DAVIDSON
DOUGIE DONNELLY Summarisers
MAL HUGHES. DAVID MCGILL TV presentation KEITH MACKENZIE WENDY SHEPPARD , PETER HAYWARD Producer KEITH PHILLIPS