LAS VEGAS - Nearly 180 bowlers from 34 countries made the traditional march to the lanes at the South Point Bowling Plaza on Friday, officially kicking off the 2019 World Bowling Women's Championships.

The festivities also included well-wishes from representatives from World Bowling and South Point and the reading of the player and officials' oaths.

Competition at the 60-lane tournament venue will get underway Saturday at noon Eastern with the first of two singles squads, and the 2019 World Women's Championships will run until Aug. 30.

Medals will be award in singles, doubles, trios, team, all-events and Masters competition.

The final two days of the event, which will include all semifinals and finals, will be broadcast live to a worldwide audience. Complete details will be available later in the week.

World Bowling also will provide livestream coverage of all qualifying rounds, and a link will be available at WorldBowling.org once bowling begins each squad.

Representing the United States this week will be longtime Team USA members Stefanie Johnson of McKinney, Texas; Liz Kuhlkin of Schenectady, New York; Danielle McEwan of Stony Point, New York; Shannon O'Keefe of Shiloh, Illinois; Missy Parkin of Laguna Hills, California; and Jordan Richard of Tecumseh, Michigan.

Las Vegas last welcomed World Bowling for the 2017 World Championships, a combined event - men and women - something that happens every four years. That event also was held at the South Point Bowling Plaza.

The 34 countries scheduled to participate this year in Las Vegas are: Australia, Bahamas, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, China, Colombia, Denmark, England, Finland, France, Germany, Guam, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Israel, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Mexico, Mongolia, New Zealand, Philippines, Poland, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Spain, Sweden, Chinese Taipei, Thailand, United States, Ukraine and Venezuela.

For more information on the 2019 World Women's Championships, visit WorldBowling.org.